Lung Pathology in Septic Shock with Leukopenia
10.7580/kjlm.2020.44.1.37
- Author:
Gi Yeong HUH
1
Author Information
1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Korea. gyhuh@pusan.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Septic shock;
Leukopenia;
Lung;
Pathology;
Diffuse alveolar damage
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2020;44(1):37-40
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Sepsis-related deaths are occasionally encountered in forensic practice. However, forensic pathologists are reluctant to use the terminology “sepsis” or “septic shock” as a cause of death because of the lack of definite morphological evidence. When sepsis is considered a cause of death, pathologic assessment is essential to identify the foci of infection or consequences of sepsis, such as diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Pneumonia is known to be a common source of sepsis and can develop into DAD with progression of sepsis. The histology of DAD varies according to the immunologic status. An autopsy of a 55-year-old man who died of septic shock with leukopenia revealed only abundant gram-negative bacilli in the alveoli without typical DAD pathology.
