[Thanatobiochemistry: post mortem study of the vitreous humor for the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis death]

Ann Biol Clin (Paris). 2018 Jun 1;76(3):245-250. doi: 10.1684/abc.2018.1348.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Thanatobiochemistry refers to a post mortem study of biochemical parameters enabling to shed light on a cause of death. This discipline shines when suspected lethal pathology doesn't have any noticeable macroscopic or microscopic features such as diabetic ketoacidosis. We relate the case of fourty-five years old patient followed-up for type I diabetes mellitus, discovered dead at home, for which only post mortem biochemical exploration of vitreous humor allowed to determine the cause of death by diabetic ketoacidosis.

Keywords: biochemistry; diabetic ketoacidosis; post mortem; thanatology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autopsy / methods*
  • Autopsy / standards
  • Biochemistry / methods
  • Biochemistry / standards
  • Body Fluids / chemistry
  • Cause of Death
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / pathology
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / complications
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / diagnosis*
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thanatology
  • Vitreous Body / chemistry
  • Vitreous Body / pathology*