Poklis A, Saady J J
Department of Pathology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0597.
Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1990 Sep;11(3):226-32.
The case of the death by arsenic poisoning of a 62-year-old white man is presented. One year prior to death, he developed intermittent bouts of severe gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea, hyperpigmentation and keratosis of the skin, neutropenia, and Guillain-Barré-like neuropathy for which he was hospitalized several times. Urine test results 6 months prior to death indicating 36 mg/L arsenic were believed to be in error. At the patient's last admission, he appeared in the emergency room with severe gastroenteritis, hypotension, and dehydration. He died 3 days later. Antemortem as well as autopsy specimens revealed elevated arsenic concentrations. Arsenic micrograms/g analysis by neutron activation of hair pulled from the man's head revealed by centimeter segmental analysis proximal to distal: 226, 104, 28, 56, 41, 40, and 74. The wife of the decedent was charged with murder by arsenic poisoning of this, her fifth, husband. The defense alleged that the decedent had committed suicide. The judge awarded a directed verdict of "not guilty." Particulars of the medical, toxicological, and investigative findings are presented.
本文介绍了一名62岁白人男子砷中毒死亡的案例。在死亡前一年，他出现了间歇性的严重肠胃炎，伴有呕吐和腹泻、皮肤色素沉着和角化病、中性粒细胞减少以及格林-巴利综合征样神经病变，为此他多次住院治疗。死亡前6个月的尿液检测结果显示砷含量为36毫克/升，当时认为该结果有误。在患者最后一次入院时，他因严重肠胃炎、低血压和脱水出现在急诊室。3天后他死亡。生前和尸检样本均显示砷浓度升高。通过中子活化分析从该男子头上拔下的头发，按厘米分段从近端到远端进行砷微克/克分析，结果为：226、104、28、56、41、40和74。死者的妻子被指控用砷毒杀了她的第五任丈夫。辩方称死者是自杀。法官作出了“无罪”的直接裁决。文中还介绍了医学、毒理学和调查结果的详细情况。
