title: [Histopathological characterization of drug-related death].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the histopathological changes in drug-related death cases in order to provide valuable information for its diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty cases of drug-related death were collected for systemic autopsy and histopathology examination. Ante mortem history and other informations of each case were also reviewed and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Injection marks, emaciation, asphyxia and histopathological changes in critical organs and tissues correlated with addiction behavior. In the 30 cases, 20% died of diseases, 33.3% acute drug intoxication, 26.7% quitting drug, 10% sudden death, and 10% outside violence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systemic autopsy and histopathology examination in drug-related death are useful for determination of the cause of death in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524023, China. 13692490452@139.com
authors.forename: Ying-hai
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bo-tao
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Han-guo
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiao-yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology*