Causes of death in patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases-a 16-year autopsy-based study.
Marta Juliana MantillaJuan José ChavesJuan Camilo SantacruzGustavo Rodríguez-SalasIgor RuedaAna Maria SantosJohn LondoñoJulio Cesar MantillaPublished in: Autopsy & case reports (2023)
our autopsy-based study was focused on patients with autoimmune and rheumatological conditions. Infections are the leading cause of death, particularly opportunistic infections, diagnosed mainly by microscopy. Thus, the autopsy should continue to be considered the "gold standard" to determine the cause of death in this population.