Autopsy Findings with Pathological Features of a Novel Human Influenza Virus Infection

Korean J Leg Med. 2010 May;34(1):58-62. Korean.

Department of Forensic Medicine, National Institute of Scientific Investigation, Seoul Korea. zzeva@korea.kr

In 2009, the novel swine H1N1 influenza (SI) virus infection had been pandemic and in some patients it led to death. But autopsy findings with pathologic features have been rarely known in the deceased with the SI infection. Herein we presented the findings in three deceased cases with the infection of SI virus, compared with those of other literatures. In all cases, postmortem examination with legal autopsy was done due to sudden unexpected death. SI virus infection was confirmed by detection of SI viral RNA performed on Korea center for Disease Control and Prevention. The autopsy findings with pathologic features of our cases were similar to those of the cases on other reports and those of previous pandemic influenza virus infection on literatures. And these findings may be helpful for understanding the biology of SI virus, and for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the SI infection.

Key words : novel influenza A virus, H1N1 virus, autopsy, diffuse alveolar damage, pathology

Case report