Human hypersensitivity angiitis: an uncommon cause of death after trauma

Introduction: The article demonstrates, using a case report, that death fol lowing an accident may have rarely encountered causes that are not a direct result of trauma and that can only be detected by autopsy. Case: An uncons cious woman aged 57 years was admitted to hospital. Despite immediate surge ry for intracranial haemorrhage diagnosed by means of cranial computed tomo graphy, the patient died showing clinical symptoms of circulatory depressio n after a brief period of stabilisation. The autopsy established myocardial infarction with hypersensitivity angiitis as the cause of death. Conclusio n: In this case, the authors hold the opinion that the intravenous applicat ion of antibiotics during the patient's stay in hospital resulted in hypers ensitivity angiitis. The factors causing hypersensitivity angiitis, the mor phological picture (clinical, histological) and therapeutic measures are de scribed.