Thanatology: postmortem diagnosis of anaphylaxis: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Forensic Medicine · Thanatology: postmortem diagnosis of anaphylaxis

Sample item

A man dies within 20 minutes of a wasp sting. Autopsy shows laryngeal oedema and hyperinflated lungs but no other cause of death. Which postmortem blood test best supports fatal anaphylaxis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Raised serum mast cell tryptase

Mast cell degranulation releases tryptase, which stays raised in postmortem serum, ideally sampled from the femoral vein. A raised level, with the history and the autopsy findings, supports anaphylaxis when the anatomical findings are non-specific. Specific IgE to the venom adds supporting evidence.

Option by option

  • A. Raised blood lactate

    Lactate rises in many forms of terminal hypoxia and is not specific.

  • B. Raised serum mast cell tryptase (correct)

    Correct. Tryptase is a marker of mast cell activation in anaphylaxis.

  • C. Raised serum troponin I

    Troponin I reflects myocardial injury, not anaphylaxis.

  • D. Raised vitreous potassium

    Vitreous potassium is used to estimate the time since death.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Raised serum mast cell tryptase. Mast cell degranulation releases tryptase, which stays raised in postmortem serum, ideally sampled from the femoral vein.

Why is "Raised blood lactate" not the answer?

Lactate rises in many forms of terminal hypoxia and is not specific.

Why is "Raised serum troponin I" not the answer?

Troponin I reflects myocardial injury, not anaphylaxis.

Why is "Raised vitreous potassium" not the answer?

Vitreous potassium is used to estimate the time since death.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Thanatology: postmortem diagnosis of anaphylaxis in Forensic Medicine. A raised level, with the history and the autopsy findings, supports anaphylaxis when the anatomical findings are non-specific. Specific IgE to the venom adds supporting evidence.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Thanatology: postmortem diagnosis of anaphylaxis?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.