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Coronary arteritis diagnosed at autopsy: three case reports and review of the literature
1Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA. hjcmd@earthlink.net
Insights
Coronary arteritis, though rare, can be fatal. This study highlights three cases where coronary arteritis contributed to death, emphasizing its significance in forensic pathology for unexplained fatalities.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Cardiovascular Pathology
Background:
- Coronary arteritis is a rare condition with potentially fatal outcomes.
- It can occur independently or alongside other diseases.
Observation:
- The study presents three male cases (ages 45, 56, and 80) with coronary arteritis.
- These individuals experienced sudden collapse, found deceased, or had recent cerebrovascular accidents.
- All cases exhibited coronary arteritis, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, myocardial disease, and fatty liver changes.
Findings:
- Coronary arteritis was identified as a significant finding in all three deceased men.
- Two individuals also had co-existing lung diseases.
- The constellation of pathologies included cardiovascular and cardiac diseases.
Implications:
- Coronary arteritis may represent an independent cause of death.
- It can be a component of systemic disease or a cluster of cardiovascular pathologies.
- This condition warrants consideration in forensic investigations of unexplained deaths.
Abstract:
Coronary arteritis is rare but can be fatal either by itself or in conjunction with other diseases. The authors report cases of three men in whom coronary arteritis was an interesting finding that may have caused or contributed to death. One 45-year-old man collapsed at work, another 56-year-old man was found dead in his parked car, and one 80-year-old man had a recent cerebrovascular accident. All three men had coronary arteritis, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, some form of myocardial disease, and fatty liver change. Two had different lung diseases. The findings suggest that coronary arteritis may be an independent cause of death, part of a systemic disease, or, as these three cases illustrate, part of a constellation of cardiac and cardiovascular pathologies with a possible relation to other medical conditions. Coronary arteritis is an important finding in forensic pathology and merits consideration in a case of unexplained death.
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