Usefulness of postmortem biochemistry in forensic pathology: illustrative case reports.
Details
Serval ID
serval:BIB_BFDB4002DB26
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Case report (case report): feedback on an observation with a short commentary.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Usefulness of postmortem biochemistry in forensic pathology: illustrative case reports.
Journal
Legal Medicine
ISSN
1344-6223
1873-4162 (Electronic)
1873-4162 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1344-6223
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2012
Volume
14
Number
1
Pages
27-35
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Case Reports ; Journal Article
Abstract
The aim of this work is to present some practical, postmortem biochemistry applications to illustrate the usefulness of this discipline and reassert the importance of carrying out biochemical investigations as an integral part of the autopsy process. Five case reports are presented pertaining to diabetic ketoacidosis in an adult who was not known to suffer from diabetes and in presence of multiple psychotropic substances; fatal flecainide intoxication in a poor metabolizer also presenting an impaired renal function; diabetic ketoacidosis showing severe postmortem changes; primary aldosteronism presented with intracranial hemorrhage and hypothermia showing severe postmortem changes. The cases herein presented can be considered representative examples of the importance of postmortem biochemistry investigations, which may provide significant information useful in determining the cause of death in routine forensic casework or contribute to understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the death process.
Keywords
2-Propanol/analysis, 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid/analysis, Adult, Aged, Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/blood, Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/pharmacokinetics, Benzodiazepines/analysis, Biological Markers/analysis, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6/genetics, Diabetic Ketoacidosis/diagnosis, Flecainide/blood, Flecainide/pharmacokinetics, Forensic Pathology, Genotype, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Glucose/analysis, Humans, Hyperaldosteronism/diagnosis, Hypothermia/diagnosis, Intracranial Hemorrhages/pathology, Ketone Bodies/analysis, Male, Middle Aged, Pancreas/pathology, Poisoning/diagnosis, Postmortem Changes, Renal Insufficiency/diagnosis, Sodium/analysis, Vitreous Body/chemistry
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
07/03/2012 12:38
Last modification date
20/08/2019 15:34