Sudden adult death

Abstract In the investigation of sudden death in adults, channelopathies, such as long QT syndrome, have risen to the fore in the minds of forensic pathologists in recent years. Examples of these disorders are touched upon in this review as an absence of abnormal findings at postmortem examination is characteristic and the importance of considering the diagnosis lies in the heritable nature of these conditions. Typically, a diagnosis of a possible channelopathy is evoked as an explanation for a ‘negative autopsy’ in a case of apparent sudden natural death. However, the one potential adverse effect of this approach is that subtle causes of sudden death may be overlooked. The intention of this article is to review and discuss potential causes of sudden adult death (mostly natural) that should be considered before resorting to a diagnosis of possible channelopathy. Nonetheless, it becomes apparent that many of the potential causes of sudden death can have a genetic basis. Thus, it becomes an important consideration that there may be a genetic basis to sudden death that extends beyond the negative autopsy..

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2009

Erschienen:

2009

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:5

Enthalten in:

Forensic science, medicine, and pathology - 5(2009), 3 vom: 18. Juli, Seite 210-232

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Langlois, Neil E. I. [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext [lizenzpflichtig]

Themen:

Adult
Autopsy
Cause of death
Death
Sudden

Anmerkungen:

© Humana Press 2009

doi:

10.1007/s12024-009-9099-3

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

OLC2102513971

Zugang & Verfügbarkeit




Zugehörige Publikationen/Bände

    Haven't found what you're looking for?