[Analysis of 10 cases died from the acute infectious disease with the severe adrenalitis, necrosis and hemorrhage].

To discuss the potential mechanisms and the role of adrenalitis with extensive hemorrhage and necrosis in acute critical infectious diseases. Methods Forensic autopsy cases from 1987 to 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. And 10 cases of them were involved in the primary and critical infection with acute inflammation, hemorrhage and necrosis of adrenal glands. Results Clinical diagnoses of 10 cases were respiratory tract infection (n=6), septic shock (n=2), acute esophagitis (n=1), and undefined causes (n=1), and the quickly aggravating conditions resulted in death ultimately. However, systematic autopsy confirmed that 7 cases died of acute lymphocytic pancarditis, 2 cases acute and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia and 1 case epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis with septicemia. And severe complications of all cases included hemorrhagic necrotizing adrenalitis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and multiple organ failure (MOF). Conclusions Hemorrhagic necrotizing adrenalitis should be considered as one of the important pathological changes in fatal MOF resulting from severe infection and trauma etc. More attention should be paid in clinical treatment.