Publication

Sudden death due to a haemoglobin variant

Journal Paper/Review - Nov 21, 2003

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Bock H, Seidl S, Hausmann R, Betz P. Sudden death due to a haemoglobin variant. Int J Legal Med 2003; 118:95-7.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Int J Legal Med 2003; 118
Publication Date
Nov 21, 2003
Issn Print
0937-9827
Pages
95-7
Brief description/objective

A previous healthy 35-year-old man was found dead in his truck. Shortly before death he merely complained of influenza-like symptoms. The histological examination revealed evidence of a massive accumulation of sickle cells in smaller blood vessels. After molecular genetic analysis, the preliminary diagnosis of "sickle cell disease" was finally changed to the diagnosis of a sickle cell trait. It is presumed that an epileptic attack which also has to be considered as a concurring cause of death, precipitated sickling of the erythrocytes and led to a fatal sickle cell crisis.