NCJ Number
238790
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2012 Pages: 14-21
Date Published
March 2012
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the possibility for establishing a range of possible analyte concentrations for use in death investigations.
Abstract
Vitreous analytes that appear stable post-mortem have been useful indicators of ante-mortem physiological function, while predictable equilibrium shifts can be diagnostic of disease or post-mortem interval. Reported normal ranges must be verified empirically due to procedural differences. Out of 555 deaths brought to the Regional Forensic Pathology Unit in Hamilton Ontario, 201 cases with vitreous analysis were reviewed. Each sample was further categorized based on immediate cause of death, pathological or traumatic death, time between death and vitreous extraction, and medical history to determine what factors may change analyte values. Our refined trauma deaths dataset demonstrated reduced variance relative to literature values, while establishing a moderate linear relationship between sodium and chloride. Potassium was not found to reliably indicate post-mortem interval. Future cases may be compared to the ranges established to determine abnormalities. Further studies could investigate drowning effects on vitreous biochemistry. (Published Abstract)