Paradoxical undressing associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage in a non-hypothermia case?

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_A63C0431164B
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Case report (case report): feedback on an observation with a short commentary.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Paradoxical undressing associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage in a non-hypothermia case?
Journal
International journal of legal medicine
Author(s)
Descloux E., Ducrot K., Scarpelli M.P., Lobrinus A., Palmiere C.
ISSN
1437-1596 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0937-9827
Publication state
Published
Issued date
25/04/2017
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Pages
1341-1345
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Abstract
Paradoxical undressing is a phenomenon characterizing some fatal hypothermia cases. The victims, despite low environmental temperatures, paradoxically remove their clothes due to a sudden feeling of warmth. In this report, we describe a case of suspected paradoxical undressing in a non-hypothermia case. The victim, a 51-year-old Caucasian man, was found dead wearing only sneakers and socks. All other clothing was found in his car. Postmortem investigations allowed the hypothesis of hypothermia to be ruled out and revealed the presence of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm that caused a subarachnoid hemorrhage, the latter responsible for the death. The absence of any elements suggesting a voluntary undressing or any third party's DNA profile or involvement along with the possibility that the subarachnoid hemorrhage might have determined a hypothalamic injury, somehow rendered conceivable the hypothesis of an inappropriate feeling of warmth due to hemorrhage-induced dysregulation of the hypothalamic temperature-regulating centers.

Keywords
Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, Autopsy, Death, Forensic, Hypothalamus, Paradoxical undressing
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
29/04/2017 16:10
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:11
Usage data