Trophoblastic microemboli as a marker for preeclampsia eclampsia in suddenunexpected maternal death - A case report and review of the literature

The authors report the case of a 25-year-old white woman at 7 months' gesta tion who died suddenly and unexpectedly at home. Anatomic findings at autop sy included a tongue contusion, glomerulonephritis, changes indicative of s ystemic hypertension, and trophoblastic microemboli in the lungs. Review of the prenatal care record disclosed 3+ proteinuria 2 days before death. The features of the postmortem examination were consistent with clinically und iagnosed preeclampsia-eclampsia and glomerulonephritis. The authors discuss the rarity of fatal preeclampsia-eclampsia, the contribution of concomitan t glomerulonephritis, and the significance of trophoblastic microemboli in the lungs.