title: HIV-negative drug addict diagnosed with AIDS and tuberculosis at autopsy: a case report and brief review of literature.
abstract: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a true plague and a major health concern globally. It is one of the most significant pandemics in recorded history. Despite worldwide efforts to fight the pandemic, and now with the re-emergence of tuberculosis, those clinicians, personnel performing autopsies and medical caregivers are again at risk in the work place, especially in developing countries. We describe a case where a drug abuser, whose addiction was concealed by his parents, died in hospital. He was tested HIV-negative there. A medical tangle ensued and forensic autopsy was carried out. Autopsy confirmed he was an intravenous drug addict and had tuberculosis. Post-mortem blood was positive for HIV antibodies and he was diagnosed with AIDS. Due to social stigmas, lack of knowledge or inefficient medical laboratory procedures etc, such type of cases can become a hazard to those attending the sick and to autopsy pathologists alike. We provide the case description, autopsy findings and review of pertinent literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, PR China. Alandocs@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sunnassee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ananda
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shaohua
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D000661:Amphetamine / Q000032:analysis; D001344:Autopsy; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis; D003218:Condylomata Acuminata / Q000473:pathology; D055030:Drug Users; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D009336:Necrosis; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology; D014391:Tuberculosis, Miliary / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D008694:Methamphetamine; C005877:pholedrine; D000661:Amphetamine