title: An adult autopsy case of acute encephalopathy associated with influenza A virus.
abstract: On a cold winter morning, a 35-year-old male was unexpectedly found dead and therefore autopsied. Macro- and microscopically, the lungs were demonstrated bronchopneumonia. On the surface of brain, small blood vessels were slightly congested. Microscopically, brain edema was also observed, and proliferation of lymphocytes was observed around the capillary vessels of the hippocampus. These findings suggested a viral infection of the cerebrum. We conducted an immunohistochemical study with antibody against influenza virus. Influenza A virus antigen was detected in both the lungs and brain. Therefore, findings were compatible with influenza A encephalopathy. Even when serological inspection is not performed, it is useful to inspect localization of the virus antigen immunohistochemically. We considered that it is necessary to perform pathological examination for influenza encephalopathy in sudden death cases when influenza is epidemic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Tokushima, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikematsu
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Itsuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gotohda
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakasono
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001344:Autopsy; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral