Forensic Analysis Reveals Acute Decompensation of Chronic Heart Failure in a 3500‐Year‐Old Egyptian Dignitary |
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| Authors: | Raffaella Bianucci Ph.D. Robert D. Loynes M.B.E. Ph.D. M. Linda Sutherland M.D. Rudy Lallo M.D. Gemma L. Kay Ph.D. Philippe Froesch Dipl.‐Ing Mark J. Pallen M.D. Philippe Charlier M.D. Andreas G. Nerlich M.D. Ph.D. |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Legal Medicine Section, Department of Public Health and Paediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy;2. UMR 7268, Laboratoire d'Anthropologie bio‐culturelle, Droit, Etique & Santé (Adés), Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, Marseilles‐ Cedex 15‐ France;3. KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PT, U.K;4. Newport Diagnostic Center;5. Clinica Pinna Pintor, Turin, Italy;6. Microbiology and Infection Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, West Midlands CV4, United Kingdom;7. Section of Medical and Forensic Anthropology (UVSQ & Paris 5 University EA 4569), France;8. Institute of Pathology, Klinikum München‐Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Naturally preserved and embalmed bodies from archeological contexts represent a powerful source of information for forensic investigators. They allow one to ascertain pathology, cause of death, to enhance diagnostic methodology, and to improve the analysis of altered remains. We investigated the complete head and lung remnants of a 3,500‐year‐old Egyptian dignitary by radiological, microscopic, and genetic approaches. The individual, a middle‐aged male, suffered from severe periodontitis, mild atherosclerosis, and experienced cardiogenic pulmonary insufficiency with recurrent mini‐bleeds and pulmonary edema. Histology and ancient DNA analyses excluded the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or of any other pathogenic species. Based on our collection of evidence, we propose that acute decompensation complicating chronic cardiac insufficiency was the likely cause of death. The underlying causes for this failure remain unknown although chronic hypertension appears to be the most likely candidate. Our finding represents the earliest reported case of chronic heart failure in ancient mummies. |
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| Keywords: | forensic science mummified remains histology shotgun metagenomics pulmonary bleeding pulmonary edema |
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