Catecholamines and their O-methylated metabolites in vitreous humor in hypothermia cases
Language English Country United States Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article
PubMed
27017494
DOI
10.1007/s12024-016-9764-2
PII: 10.1007/s12024-016-9764-2
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- Keywords
- Catecholamines, Hypothermia, Metanephrines, Postmortem biochemistry, Vitreous humor,
- MeSH
- Epinephrine metabolism MeSH
- Dopamine analogs & derivatives metabolism MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Hypothermia diagnosis metabolism MeSH
- Catecholamines metabolism MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Metanephrine metabolism MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Norepinephrine metabolism MeSH
- Normetanephrine metabolism MeSH
- Postmortem Changes MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Vitreous Body metabolism MeSH
- Forensic Pathology MeSH
- Case-Control Studies MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Names of Substances
- 3-methoxytyramine MeSH Browser
- Epinephrine MeSH
- Dopamine MeSH
- Catecholamines MeSH
- Metanephrine MeSH
- Norepinephrine MeSH
- Normetanephrine MeSH
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of catecholamines and their O-methylated metabolites in vitreous humor samples in identifying antemortem cold exposure and fatal hypothermia in the forensic casework. METHODS: A total of 80 autopsy cases (40 hypothermia fatalities and 40 cases in which hypothermia as the main or contributory cause of death was excluded) were selected for this study. Catecholamines and their O-methylated metabolites were measured in urine and vitreous humor samples collected at autopsy. RESULTS: Urine catecholamine and their O-methylated metabolite concentrations were significantly higher in hypothermia-related deaths. On the other hand, measurements in vitreous humor samples did not reveal statistically significant differences between hypothermia-related deaths and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Globally considered, our findings seem to suggest that, contrary to urine catecholamines and their O-methylated metabolites, vitreous levels of these compounds appear to be of limited value in characterizing human antemortem stress reactions due to cold exposure and can hardly be used in the forensic setting to support the diagnosis of hypothermia.
Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine Medical University of Lublin Lublin Poland
Service de Biomédecine Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne Switzerland
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