Postmortem Chemistry Update Emphasis on Forensic Application

Coe, John I.

doi:10.1097/00000433-199306000-00001

Cited by 355 publications

(246 citation statements)

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“…The potassium concentration of VH is slightly higher than in plasma because of an active transport of potassium across the ciliary body into the posterior chamber and through the anterior capsule of the lens and passive diffusion through the posterior capsule of the lens into the vitreous body [2]. After death, during the breakdown of the sodium/ potassium ATPase pump and the loss of selective membrane permeability, the equalization of concentration differences takes place [14,30]. Potassium starts to leave the cells of the body rapidly after death.…”

Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potassium starts to leave the cells of the body rapidly after death. As a consequence, serum potassium rises very rapidly postmortem [14]. In contrast to serum and CSF, vitreous potassium levels gradually rise linearly following death [14,30].…”

Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Forensic scientists are of the opinion that vitreous potassium should not be the definitive method of choice for estimation of post-mortem interval but used selectively and in conjunction with other tests [30]. Vitreous potassium levels [14] are of no help in determining the potassium status of an individual immediately prior to death. Increased vitreous potassium levels have no diagnostic value, whereas low vitreous levels are theoretically indicative of hypokalemia [14].…”

Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vitreous potassium levels [14] are of no help in determining the potassium status of an individual immediately prior to death. Increased vitreous potassium levels have no diagnostic value, whereas low vitreous levels are theoretically indicative of hypokalemia [14].…”

Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…VH is relatively inert and only slightly influenced by sudden fluctuations in the blood chemistry [9]. The isolate nature of VH, compared to blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF), and its resistance to microbiological contamination with bacterial degradation [5,6,11,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] makes VH a very suitable medium for post-mortem biochemical investigation [13][14][15][16][17]. Moreover, its composition is more stable and less affected by post-mortem changes than CSF [14,21,22] or blood [5,6,10,14,21,22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vitreous Humor: A Short Review on Post-mortem Applications

J¹

2015

J Clin Exp Pathol

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Vitreous humor has been investigated since the 1960s, with many debates occurring over the years with regard to the usefulness of its specific applications. The composition of several electrolytes in post-mortem vitreous humour has been extensively studied. Using the fluid for determining the cause of death has also become commonplace, including testing glucose levels of diabetic related deaths, as well as alcohol and drug related fatalities. The debate regarding the composition between two eyes of the same individual has been an issue in the past, but has since been resolved.

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Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Applications Electrolytesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vitreous Humor: A Short Review on Post-mortem Applications

J¹

2015

J Clin Exp Pathol

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Capillary Ion Electrophoresis in Forensic Science

Ferslew

Hagardorn

2000

Encyclopedia of Analytical Chemistry

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Electrolyte concentrations can be determined in biological specimens by a number of analytical techniques including flame emission spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and potentiometry with an ion‐specific electrode. Capillary ion electrophoresis (CIE) is an adaptation of free zone capillary electrophoresis to a particular electrophoretic analysis of highly mobile low‐molecular‐weight ions. Vitreous humor electrolyte and nitrogenous compound concentrations are often used to determine potential antemortem disease states or the time interval between time of death and time of autopsy (postmortem interval). Potassium ion concentration in the vitreous humor increases after death, and determination of its concentration in vitreous humor is often used to estimate the postmortem interval. Lithium ion is considered valuable in the treatment of certain types of mania and major endogenous depression and is even used in the treatment of cluster headaches. The optimum dosage is best determined by monitoring serum lithium concentrations. Lithium toxicity can occur with elevated serum lithium concentrations and repeated measurement every 3 h of serum lithium concentrations is recommended for intoxicated patients to differentiate acute poisoning from chronic toxicity and to determine the best course of therapy. The development of the CIE methodology reported herein offers a different qualitative and quantitative analytical technique to detect these ions in biological fluids and tissues. Application of CIE analysis for detection and quantitation of potassium and lithium ions in biological fluids and tissues commonly collected and analyzed in clinical and forensic toxicology is described.

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Toxicology: Analysis

Jones

2009

Wiley Encyclopedia of Forensic Science

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This article outlines the specimens available for toxicological examination in postmortem cases and their potential value for detecting and measuring drugs and other toxicants. Postmortem blood concentrations of many drugs can vary in concentration depending on the location in the body from which the blood is drawn and the volume collected. This is because many drugs concentrate in the major organs and tissues when alive, but diffuse out of those tissues after death, causing local increases in blood drug concentrations. To recognize when these postmortem artifacts occur and assist the interpretation of toxicology findings, collection and analysis of multiple blood and tissue samples is sometimes necessary. The advantages and disadvantages of the various blood and tissue types are listed and discussed.

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Postmortem Chemistry Update Emphasis on Forensic Application

Cited by 355 publications

References 0 publications

Vitreous Humor: A Short Review on Post-mortem Applications

Vitreous Humor: A Short Review on Post-mortem Applications

Capillary Ion Electrophoresis in Forensic Science

Toxicology: Analysis

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