A 57-year-old woman was discovered by her husband in an inanimate state. The post-mortem examination revealed many extensive haematomas. On account of a suspicion of third-party negligence, an autopsy was performed the same day, during which was established that the cause of death was a clotting abnormality, the cause of which remained unclear. Toxicological analyses revealed a concentration of phenprocoumon of 7.8 mg/l.
A 76-year-old man admitted himself to hospital immediately upon returning from a stay abroad. In hospital, extensive haematomas and a massive clotting abnormality (prothrombin ratio < 10 % ) were discovered. A blood sample taken the following day yielded evidence of a phenprocoumon concentration of 3.1 mg/l. According to his general practitioner, no corresponding medications had been prescribed. Suspicion of foul play in the introduction of this active agent resulted in a police investigation.
Both cases demonstrate the necessity of toxicological analyses in cases of clotting abnormalities.