title: [Death caused by anaphylactic shock: a forensic pathological analysis of 142 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the forensic pathological features of death caused by anaphylactic shock.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-two death cases of anaphylactic shock were retrospectively analyzed. The IgE level in the serum of anaphylactic shock cases were statistically compared with that of 62 non-anaphylactic shock cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most cases (77.46%) of anaphylactic shock death occurred in the medical institutes, with intravenous drug administration accounting for 53.53% of anaphylactic shock death. β-Lactam antibiotics, glucocorticoid and herbal medications were responsible for a significant proportion of such cases. Although characteristic histopathological changes were absent in vast majority of these anaphylactic shock cases, the differences of IgE levels in the serum between anaphylactic shock group and non-anaphylactic shock group were statistically significant (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined information including clinical data, autopsy results, IgE level, and other specific test results should be evaluated together in the forensic pathological diagnosis of anaphylactic shock.
authors.forename: Dong-yang
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shuang-gao
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jin-xiang
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Er-wen
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qiu-ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jian-ding
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Shuang-bo
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D044967:Serum