The morphological changes in the internal organs in hemochromatosis
Pigolkin, I.I.; Osipenkova, T.K.
Sudebno-Meditsinskaia Ekspertiza 41(2): 20-22
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-4521 PMID: 9608256 Document Number: 488789
Visceral changes were studied by histological and electron-microscopic methods in cadavers of 18 subjects dead from hemochromatosis. Pronounced visceral changes in all cases represented a characteristic tetrad of signs: bronze-colored skin, pigmentary cirrhosis of the liver, involvement of the pancreas, and cardiomyopathy. In forensic medical practice hemochromatosis can be found in subjects who were probably genetically predisposed to it and, as a rule, had a history of alcohol abuse. Among the numerous complications of the disease, the most incident are cardiac pathology (dilatation cardiomyopathy) and diabetes mellitus with concomitant intoxications caused by various inflammations.