Evaluation of chronic kidney disease in sudden death cases - A one year autopsy study in tertiary care hospital

Autopsy is the ultimate diagnostic test, typically the gold standard with an assumed 100% sensitivity for establishing the causes of death. Medicolegal autopsies are conducted in cases of sudden, suspicious and unnatural deaths. The frequency and spectrum of renal pathologies on medicolegal autopsy specimens are not well documented in the literature. Our study aimed at diseases in sudden death cases based on the histomorphological findings by microscopical examination of renal tissue. Kidney specimens of 120 Medicolegal autopsy cases were received, processed and examined in our department over a period of 2 years. Out of 120 cases chronic kidney cases (CKD) was identified in 45 (37.5%) cases. In our study 28 cases were male (62.22%) and 17 cases were female (37.78%). The different lesions suggesting CKD were, glomerulosclerosis 2 cases (4.44%), Chronic pyelonephritis in 6 (13.33%) cases, Vascular sclerosis 32 cases (71.11%) and in 5 cases (11.11%) interstitial nephritis. This study analyzed various entities of chronic kidney disease found in medicolegal autopsies. These entities either contribute or directly responsible for the death of the individuals.