Scientific article
English

Usefulness of postmortem biochemistry in forensic pathology: illustrative case reports

Published inLegal medicine, vol. 14, no. 1, p. 27-35
Publication date2012
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/pharmacokinetics/poisoning
  • Benzodiazepines/analysis
  • Biological Markers/analysis
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6/genetics
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis/diagnosis
  • Flecainide/blood/pharmacokinetics/poisoning
  • 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
Citation (ISO format)
PALMIERE, Cristian et al. Usefulness of postmortem biochemistry in forensic pathology: illustrative case reports. In: Legal medicine, 2012, vol. 14, n° 1, p. 27–35. doi: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2011.10.004
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
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Identifiers
ISSN of the journal1344-6223
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Technical informations

Creation19/11/2012 14:38:00
First validation19/11/2012 14:38:00
Update time14/03/2023 20:02:10
Status update14/03/2023 20:02:10
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