ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

Sudden Unexpected Death in a Patient with Splenic Sequestration and Sickle Cell-β⁺-thalassemia Syndrome
Phatak, D
University of Medicine and Dentistry, State of New Jersey Medical School, NJ

Natarajan, GA

Hutchins, KD
Associate medical examiner and regional medical examiner, Regional Medical Examiner Office, Edwin H. Albano Institute of Forensic Sciences, NJ

Ballas, SK
Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Cardeza Foundation for Hematologic Research, Jefferson Medical College, PA

(Received 30 November 1999; accepted 10 April 2000)

Abstract

Acute splenic sequestration crisis is a rare disorder that usually occurs in children, with sickle cell anemia, who are under the age of five years. A few cases have been described in adults with heterozygous sickle cell syndromes. Though this entity can be fatal there have been no reported cases associated with sudden death. We describe a case of sudden, unexpected death, associated with splenic sequestration, in a 29-year-old African-American man with undiagnosed sickle cell-β⁺-thalassemia syndrome.

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic pathology, sudden death, acute splenic sequestration, thalassemia, sickle cell disorders

Paper ID: JFS14985J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS14985J
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