Fatal Excipients: An Autopsy Case Series of Excipient Lung Disease

We describe 5 patients with excipient lung disease that had antemortem chronic medical conditions that required a peripherally inserted catheter or port. All 5 patients had intravascular and perivascular deposition of polarizable foreign material within the pulmonary arteries. Foreign body granulomatosis as a result of intravenous drug use was not clinically suspected in any patient, and 2 of the 5 patients were misdiagnosed with mycobacterium infections. Pulmonary congestion, dyspnea, and symptoms of heart failure were noted in 3 patients and 2 had a history of upper arm deep vein thrombosis. We conclude that excipient lung disease may be underdiagnosed cause of dyspnea, pulmonary hypertension, and death in patients with a known history of intravenous drug use.
Source: The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology - Category: Forensic Medicine Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research