[Histopathological characterization of drug-related death].
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.
Zhao
Ying-hai
YH
Department of Pathology, Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524023, China. 13692490452@139.com
Luo
Bo-tao
BT
Jiang
Han-guo
HG
Chen
Xiao-yi
XY
D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000473:pathology*