| Sudden unexpected death due to a previously undiagnosed plasma cell dyscrasia. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18665886 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The plasma cell dyscrasias are a diverse group of disorders characterized by the production of a clonal paraprotein. Sudden death is a recognized complication of the plasma cell dyscrasias, most commonly in individuals with cardiac involvement by amyloidosis. However, the current forensic literature has no reported cases in which sudden death resulted from complications of a plasma cell dyscrasia that was first diagnosed by postmortem histologic examination. We present the case of a woman whose sudden and unexpected death resulted from a seizure. Postmortem examination revealed no evidence of trauma or a grossly identifiable natural disease process that would have accounted for her death. However, microscopic and immunohistologic studies revealed a previously undiagnosed plasma cell dyscrasia, the clonality of which was determined by immunohistochemical studies for immunoglobulin light chains, that was not associated with amyloid deposition. This case elucidates a previously unrecognized cause of sudden unexpected death and illustrates the importance of microscopic studies in selected cases examined in medical examiner/coroner offices. |
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Authors:
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Rebecca A Hamilton; Barbara C Wolf |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Case Reports; Journal Article Date: 2008-07-26 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of forensic sciences Volume: 53 ISSN: 1556-4029 ISO Abbreviation: J. Forensic Sci. Publication Date: 2008 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-10-21 Completed Date: 2009-03-03 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0375370 Medline TA: J Forensic Sci Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 1194-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Office of the District 21 Medical Examiner, Fort Myers, FL 33907, USA. rebecca_hamilton_md@hotmail.com |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Bone Marrow Diseases
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pathology Death, Sudden / etiology* Female Forensic Pathology Humans Immunoglobulin Light Chains / analysis Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains / analysis Immunohistochemistry Microscopy Middle Aged Paraproteinemias / diagnosis* Plasma Cells / pathology Pulmonary Embolism / pathology Seizures / etiology |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Immunoglobulin Light Chains; 0/Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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