Abstract
To evaluate pathophysiological significance of post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in determining the cause of death, we investigated 210 forensic autopsy cases, partially in comparison with serum levels. Post-mortem serum myoglobin levels were extraordinary high in most cases possibly due to post-mortem change. Urinary myoglobin levels did not correlate with the serum levels, showing possible post-mortem elevation in cases of a prolonged post-mortem period over 48 h. A high (>1000 ng/ml), moderate (100-1000 ng/ml), slight (50-100 ng/ml) and not significant (<50 ng/ml) elevation of urinary myoglobin were observed in 26, 43, 31 and 110 cases, respectively. Half the highly elevated cases were those with a survival time over 24 h. In cases of minor muscle injury such as head trauma, elevation of urinary myoglobin level was closely related to longer survival. In acute/subacute deaths with a post-mortem interval within 48 h, a significant difference was observed in relation to the blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels of fire victims: myoglobinuria over 100 ng/ml was more frequently and markedly observed in cases with COHb below 60% than over 60%, suggesting muscle damage in fatal burns. Similar elevation was observed in heat stroke victims, and also in some cases of acute and subacute death from polytrauma, asphyxiation, drowning, electricity and spontaneous cerebral bleeding, but not in myocardial infarction. Thus, it was suggested that high post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in acute and subacute death cases may be a possible indicator of antemortem massive skeletal muscle damage as well as exertional muscle hyperactivity or convulsive disorders associated with hypoxia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 183-188 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Forensic Science International |
| Volume | 115 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2001 Jan 15 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Burn
- Forensic pathology
- Hypoxia
- Muscle injury
- Myoglobinuria
- Post-mortem change
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Genetics
- Analytical Chemistry
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels with reference to the causes of death. / Zhu, Bao Li; Ishida, Kaori; Quan, Li; Taniguchi, Mari; Oritani, Shigeki; Kamikodai, Yasunobu; Fujita, Masaki Q; Maeda, Hitoshi.
In: Forensic Science International, Vol. 115, No. 3, 15.01.2001, p. 183-188.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels with reference to the causes of death
AU - Zhu, Bao Li
AU - Ishida, Kaori
AU - Quan, Li
AU - Taniguchi, Mari
AU - Oritani, Shigeki
AU - Kamikodai, Yasunobu
AU - Fujita, Masaki Q
AU - Maeda, Hitoshi
PY - 2001/1/15
Y1 - 2001/1/15
N2 - To evaluate pathophysiological significance of post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in determining the cause of death, we investigated 210 forensic autopsy cases, partially in comparison with serum levels. Post-mortem serum myoglobin levels were extraordinary high in most cases possibly due to post-mortem change. Urinary myoglobin levels did not correlate with the serum levels, showing possible post-mortem elevation in cases of a prolonged post-mortem period over 48 h. A high (>1000 ng/ml), moderate (100-1000 ng/ml), slight (50-100 ng/ml) and not significant (<50 ng/ml) elevation of urinary myoglobin were observed in 26, 43, 31 and 110 cases, respectively. Half the highly elevated cases were those with a survival time over 24 h. In cases of minor muscle injury such as head trauma, elevation of urinary myoglobin level was closely related to longer survival. In acute/subacute deaths with a post-mortem interval within 48 h, a significant difference was observed in relation to the blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels of fire victims: myoglobinuria over 100 ng/ml was more frequently and markedly observed in cases with COHb below 60% than over 60%, suggesting muscle damage in fatal burns. Similar elevation was observed in heat stroke victims, and also in some cases of acute and subacute death from polytrauma, asphyxiation, drowning, electricity and spontaneous cerebral bleeding, but not in myocardial infarction. Thus, it was suggested that high post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in acute and subacute death cases may be a possible indicator of antemortem massive skeletal muscle damage as well as exertional muscle hyperactivity or convulsive disorders associated with hypoxia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
AB - To evaluate pathophysiological significance of post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in determining the cause of death, we investigated 210 forensic autopsy cases, partially in comparison with serum levels. Post-mortem serum myoglobin levels were extraordinary high in most cases possibly due to post-mortem change. Urinary myoglobin levels did not correlate with the serum levels, showing possible post-mortem elevation in cases of a prolonged post-mortem period over 48 h. A high (>1000 ng/ml), moderate (100-1000 ng/ml), slight (50-100 ng/ml) and not significant (<50 ng/ml) elevation of urinary myoglobin were observed in 26, 43, 31 and 110 cases, respectively. Half the highly elevated cases were those with a survival time over 24 h. In cases of minor muscle injury such as head trauma, elevation of urinary myoglobin level was closely related to longer survival. In acute/subacute deaths with a post-mortem interval within 48 h, a significant difference was observed in relation to the blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels of fire victims: myoglobinuria over 100 ng/ml was more frequently and markedly observed in cases with COHb below 60% than over 60%, suggesting muscle damage in fatal burns. Similar elevation was observed in heat stroke victims, and also in some cases of acute and subacute death from polytrauma, asphyxiation, drowning, electricity and spontaneous cerebral bleeding, but not in myocardial infarction. Thus, it was suggested that high post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in acute and subacute death cases may be a possible indicator of antemortem massive skeletal muscle damage as well as exertional muscle hyperactivity or convulsive disorders associated with hypoxia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
KW - Burn
KW - Forensic pathology
KW - Hypoxia
KW - Muscle injury
KW - Myoglobinuria
KW - Post-mortem change
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035864228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035864228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00326-1
DO - 10.1016/S0379-0738(00)00326-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 11074173
AN - SCOPUS:0035864228
VL - 115
SP - 183
EP - 188
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
SN - 0379-0738
IS - 3
ER -