Journal of Forensic Research

Two Autopsy Cases of Water Intoxication

Abstract

Wataru Kawashima, Katsuhiko Hatake, Risa Kudo, Mari Nakanishi, Shigehiro Tamaki, Shogo Kasuda, Katsuya Yuui and Akiko Ishitani

We here report two autopsy cases of men with an intellectual disability who died from water intoxication.
(Case 1) A 22-year-old man was found dead in a prone position in his room. Autopsy and histological findings revealed the edema of brain and lung. The serum Na value was 108 mEq/L. (Case 2) A 23-year-old man suddenly fell and was found unconscious. Autopsy and histological findings revealed the edema of brain and lung. In lung tissue, deposition of fibrin around the vessels, was found. The serum Na value was <100 mEq/L. On the basis of these findings, we concluded that they were died from water intoxication and hyponatremia as a result of massive drinking. We also discuss new autopsy findings that support the diagnosis of water intoxication and we investigate the serum Na value of autopsy cases (N=17) in order to analyses the postmortem change of serum Na value.