1. Trophoblastic Microemboli as a Marker for Preeclampsia-Eclampsia in Sudden Unexpected Maternal Death
- Author
-
John T. Crosson, Andrew M. Baker, Kathryn K. Berg, and Mitchel K. Morey
- Subjects
Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Pregnancy Trimester, Third ,Embolism ,Kidney Glomerulus ,Autopsy ,Prenatal care ,Sudden death ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,Preeclampsia ,Death, Sudden ,Fatal Outcome ,Glomerulonephritis ,Pre-Eclampsia ,Pregnancy ,Humans ,Medicine ,Eclampsia ,reproductive and urinary physiology ,business.industry ,Obstetrics ,medicine.disease ,female genital diseases and pregnancy complications ,Trophoblasts ,Microscopy, Electron ,Proteinuria ,embryonic structures ,Female ,Maternal death ,business ,Biomarkers - Abstract
The authors report the case of a 25-year-old white woman at 7 months' gestation who died suddenly and unexpectedly at home. Anatomic findings at autopsy included a tongue contusion, glomerulonephritis, changes indicative of systemic hypertension, and trophoblastic microemboli in the lungs. Review of the prenatal care record disclosed 3+ proteinuria 2 days before death. The features of the postmortem examination were consistent with clinically undiagnosed preeclampsia-eclampsia and glomerulonephritis. The authors discuss the rarity of fatal preeclampsia-eclampsia, the contribution of concomitant glomerulonephritis, and the significance of trophoblastic microemboli in the lungs.
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF