The Anaphylactoid Syndrome of Pregnancy: Two Autopsy Cases

The anaphylactoid syndrome of pregnancy (ASP) is a rare emergency with significant mortality and morbidity, in which the amniotic fluid and fetal cells enter the maternal circulation leading to respiratory failure, altered mental status, hypotension, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The term ASP was recently introduced to replace the term amniotic fluid embolism since the clinical manifestations of the entity were more similar to a septic or anaphylactic shock rather than that of an embolic event. Two autopsy cases are described, regarding a 35-year-old gravida 2 para 1 and a 34-year-old gravida 1 para 0, where the cause of death was determined to be ASP.