title: Autopsy report for a caffeine intoxication case and review of the current literature.
abstract: Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a popular mild central nervous system stimulant found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of various plants and in foodstuffs such as coffee, tea, and chocolate, among others. Caffeine is widely used and is not associated with severe side effects when consumed at relatively low doses. Although rarely observed, overdoses can occur. However, only a few fatal caffeine intoxication cases have been reported in the literature. Herein, we report the pathological examination results and information on caffeine concentrations in the blood, urine and main organs in a fatal caffeine intoxication case. Even though high caffeine concentrations were found in the systemic organs, no caffeine-related pathological changes were detected.
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Pathology and Science, Unit of Social Medicine, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology II, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology II, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Emoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Pathology and Science, Unit of Social Medicine, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umehara
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Pathology and Science, Unit of Social Medicine, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.affiliation: Division of Forensic Pathology and Science, Unit of Social Medicine, Course of Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikematsu
keywords: autopsy; caffeine; intoxication; pathology; suicide