Sudden death of a young woman attributed to diabetic ketoacidosis.
A young woman's death at home was attributed to new onset diabetic ketoacidosis with subsequent litigation supported by several expert consultants, despite a history and postmortem findings inconsistent with this diagnosis. More thorough tissue study of the heart and analysis of the circumstances led to a credible explanation of the entire scenario.
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, United States. Electronic address: rosenal@peds.ufl.edu.
Arlan L
AL
Rosenbloom
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000096:Acetone / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D002423:Cause of Death; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology*; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004319:Doxylamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D050261:Glycogenolysis; D006801:Humans; D007659:Ketones / Q000032:analysis; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008318:Malpractice; D054199:Pseudoephedrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry; D015431:Weight Loss
D004338:Drug Combinations; D007659:Ketones; C045626:Nyquil; D000096:Acetone; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000431:Ethanol; D003915:Dextromethorphan; D054199:Pseudoephedrine; D004319:Doxylamine; D005947:Glucose
Acetaminophen; Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia; Blood-alcohol; Dextromethorphan; Diabetic ketoacidosis; Doxylamine succinate; Medicolegal; NyQuil; Pseudoephedrine