Hypothermia: autopsy findings and vitreous glucose.
Anatomic lesions associated with hypothermia are variable and nonspecific. Only a few gross lesions and no microscopic pathology were noted in the acute deaths of this series. An interesting anatomic observation was the low weight of the lungs in 45% of the hypothermic deaths. Hypothermia is recognized as frequently producing hyperglycemia and 80% of a group of such patients clinically treated at the Hennepin County Medical Center had elevated blood sugar values. This correlates with an average vitreous glucose of 82.6 mg/dL in the hypothermic deaths. By contrast, the average vitreous glucose value found in each of two separate control groups was 37 mg/dL. Establishing hypothermia as the cause of death requires a proper history of exposure and the absence of any other clear-cut lethal factor. Certain biochemical tests may provide supporting evidence. Among these is an elevated vitreous glucose in a nondiabetic individual.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000150:complications; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000032:analysis*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005947:Glucose