Abstract: Objective To explore medico-legal characteristics of sudden death caused by coronary heart disease combined with coronary thrombosis. Methods Ninety-six cases of sudden death caused by coronary heart disease were collected and divided into two groups： thrombus positive and thrombus negative groups. The time onset, induction and pathological features of coronary artery disease were analyzed. Results Two groups showed man-dominant population. There were no statistical significant differences in season, circadian rhythm and induction factor. The thrombus positive group（age<40） showed a higher disease incidence. Heart weight and degree of coronary stenosis were lower in thrombus positive group. However, there was no statistical difference in the number of atherosclerotic coronary arteries（≥2）, the length of coronary lesions and myocardial infarct. But thrombosis positive group showed lower tendency. Conclusion Two groups are man-dominant population and similar induction factor, lesion position, mechanism of death. But thrombus positive group appeared more in a younger population and the degree of coronary stenosis is milder than thrombus negative group. Forensic pathologists should pay more attention to these characteristics in death investigation.

Key words: forensic pathology, death, sudden, cardiac, coronary arteriosclerosis, coronary thrombosis