NCJ Number
131255
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1991) Pages: 1089-1093
Date Published
1991
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The feasibility of postmortal neopterin analyses is investigated.
Abstract
Increased neopterin levels in urine and serum are indicative of viral infections, autoimmune disease, allograft rejections, and certain malignant diseases. Neopterin concentrations were determined in urine and serum samples of 32 corpses at 3 to 69 hours after death. Approximately half of the corpses had urine neopterin concentrations slightly above the normal range of healthy controls. Overall urine neopterin concentrations in corpses were similar to those of healthy live controls and are independent of time after death. In contrast to urine levels, serum neopterin was greatly increased in corpses with time and correlated significantly with the time of death. However, the correlation was not very strong. These results indicate the feasibility of neopterin measurements in urine and serum of corpses. Urine neopterin, in particular, could assist in the diagnosis of inflammatory disease in corpses. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 10 references (Author abstract modified)