Death in bathtub revisited with molecular genetics: a victim with suicidal traits and a LQTS gene mutation

A 44-year-old woman with a medical history of mental disorders and previous suicidal behaviour was found in a bathtub and pronounced death few minutes later despite of resuscitation attempts. After police investigation and on the basis of autopsy findings, the death was classified as suicide drowning. Retrospective examination of clinical data revealed, a prolonged rate-corrected QT-interval (QTc: 468 ms) 3 months before death. Post-mortem (PM) DNA analysis disclosed KCNH2(FIN) mutation for the long-QT syndrome (LQTS). The value of PM molecular screening for LQTS is emphasised, especially for victims of putative drowning.