An Autopsy Case of Sudden Death from Bronchial Asthma

An autopsy case of 33 year-old-man in sudden death from bronchial asthma was reported. The patient had repeated asthmatic attack in every autumn since three years old. In this autumn, the attack was repeated for ten days and when the attack was reduced, the patient died unexpectedly despite medical treatment, which included bronchodilators, corticosteroid and anti-histamine. Pathological findings in the lung, were mucous degeneration of the bronchial epithelium, thickening of the basement membrane and eosinophillia. The atrophy of the cortices of the adrenal glands and the hypertrophy in the right ventricle of the heart were markedly shown. The cause of the death was suspected as an acute adrenal insufficieacy and right ventricular insufficiency.