tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Forensic Sci. 2012 May 9. doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2012.02163.x. [Epub ahead of print]
2009 H1N1 Fatalities: The New Mexico Experience.
Brooks EG, Bryce CH, Avery C, Smelser C, Thompson D, Nolte KB.
Source
New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, The University of New Mexico, MSC07 4040, 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. New Mexico Department of Health, 1190 South St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87502.
Abstract
Histopathologic features of New Mexico 2009 H1N1 fatalities have not been representative of those reported nationwide. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all New Mexico 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) fatalities (n = 50). In cases in which autopsy was performed (n = 12), histologic sections and culture results were examined. In contrast to previously published studies, the majority of our fatalities did not have diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) (2/12; 16.7%). Common findings included pulmonary interstitial inflammation and edema, tracheobronchitis, and pneumonia. Two cases had significant extra-pulmonary manifestations: myocarditis and cerebral edema with herniation. The majority had a rapid disease course: range from 1 to 12 days (median, 2 days), and Native Americans were disproportionately represented among fatalities. These findings suggest that New Mexico H1N1 fatalities generally did not survive long enough to develop the classic picture of DAD. Pathologists should be aware that H1N1 may cause extra-pulmonary pathology and perform postmortem cultures and histologic sampling accordingly.
© 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
PMID:
22571830
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22571830
2009 H1N1 Fatalities: The New Mexico Experience.
Brooks EG, Bryce CH, Avery C, Smelser C, Thompson D, Nolte KB.
Source
New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator, The University of New Mexico, MSC07 4040, 1101 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. New Mexico Department of Health, 1190 South St. Francis Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87502.
Abstract
Histopathologic features of New Mexico 2009 H1N1 fatalities have not been representative of those reported nationwide. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all New Mexico 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) fatalities (n = 50). In cases in which autopsy was performed (n = 12), histologic sections and culture results were examined. In contrast to previously published studies, the majority of our fatalities did not have diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) (2/12; 16.7%). Common findings included pulmonary interstitial inflammation and edema, tracheobronchitis, and pneumonia. Two cases had significant extra-pulmonary manifestations: myocarditis and cerebral edema with herniation. The majority had a rapid disease course: range from 1 to 12 days (median, 2 days), and Native Americans were disproportionately represented among fatalities. These findings suggest that New Mexico H1N1 fatalities generally did not survive long enough to develop the classic picture of DAD. Pathologists should be aware that H1N1 may cause extra-pulmonary pathology and perform postmortem cultures and histologic sampling accordingly.
© 2012 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
PMID:
22571830
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22571830