Sudden death due to diabetic coma in insulin-department diabetes mellitus: an autopsy report.

Sudden death caused by the acute onset of diabetic coma is reported. A 15-year-old female had been suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus for the prior 8 years and had a fever and vomiting for the past few days. On the 4th day, after the onset of fever and vomiting, she died suddenly, and was autopsied to clarify the cause of death. Macroscopic examination revealed that the pancreas was atrophic (40 g) whereas the liver was markedly enlarged (2,740 g). Histological findings were: 1) The islets of Langerhans were decreased in size and number. They were not positive for aldehyde-fuchsin staining, 2) There were severe fatty changes in the liver cells. The retained blood in the left ventricle was analyzed: glucose, 1,016 mg/dl; acetone, 345 mg/l; acetoacetate, 5.91 mmol/l: D-3-hydroxybutyrate, 4.17 mmol/l; hemoglobin A1c, 10.2%; fructosamine, 416 mumol/l; total serum cholesterol, 220 mg/dl; triglycerides, 205 mg/dl; free fatty acid, 8.0 mEq/l; urea nitrogen, 40 mg/dl. Although the biochemical estimation of the glucose and ketone levels in post-mortem body fluids was recognized as being unreliable, many of these values were far elevated in comparison with those of normal individuals. Thus, we concluded that the cause of death was diabetic ketoacidosis. We also discuss the diagnostic problems of postmortem blood chemistry.