Virological studies in fatal outcomes in influenza and its complications in adults during the period of influenza A (H3N2) virus circulation from 1969 to 1983

: In the period of circulation of influenza A (H3N2) virus, 1969-1983, we examined virologically the autopsy specimens from 69 adults who died of influenza and its complications. Immunofluorescence examinations of organ impressions and infected cultures as well as virus isolations were used for postmortem laboratory diagnosis. Influenza viruses were isolated postmortem in all age groups, predominantly in older subjects (over 60), both in cases of early and late (after 7 days) deaths. The viruses were isolated more frequently from respiratory organs, less so from the blood, parenchymatous organs, cerebral tissue. A decrease in the number of lethal outcomes in adults and in the number of positive virus isolations postmortem was noted with the emergence of an antigenic drift-variant Victoria/75. Simultaneous employment of several laboratory tests verified virologically the diagnosis of influenza in adults postmortem in 85% of the cases.