ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 4

Postmortem Diagnosis of Leukodystrophies
Burns, C
Jewish Hospital, KY

Parker, JC
University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY

Shields, LBE
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, KY

Handy, TC
University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY

(Received 8 August 1997; accepted 29 January 1998)

Abstract

Leukodystrophies are progressive disorders involving the development and maintenance of myelin in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although relatively uncommon, leukodystrophic disorders may be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed during life, and may appear as “sudden death.” In such instances, these victims may be referred to a forensic pathologist. In general, leukodystrophies are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner so that proper postmortem diagnosis by the forensic pathologist is extremely important to the decedent's family for future family planning.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic pathology, leukodystrophy, sudden death, inherited disorder, lysosomal disorder, progressive demyelination

Paper ID: JFS14359J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14359J
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