Comparison of chemical methods for determining postmortem interval.
Accurate determination of postmortem interval (PMI) is a problem for the forensic thanatologist, especially in unwitnessed deaths. A number of objective chemical methods for determining PMI have been developed, the most widely used being accumulation of potassium in the vitreous humor. The authors previously have reported a chemical method for determining PMI from the predictable accumulation or clearance of the dopaminergic metabolite 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) in the putamen of the brain. They have extended their previous study to compare directly the accuracy of determining PMI from the level of 3-MT in putamen with the level of potassium in vitreous humor. The data indicate that 3-MT is at least as accurate as, if not more accurate than, potassium accumulation in vitreous humor, although 3-MT levels can be affected by the cause of death and drugs present at the time of death. Nevertheless, determination of both the 3-MT and potassium levels can afford the most accurate method of determining PMI; preliminary nomograms for determining PMI from both variables are presented.
Sparks
D L
DL
Sanders-Brown Research Center on Aging, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington.
Oeltgen
P R
PR
Kryscio
R J
RJ
Hunsaker
J C
JC
D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000473:pathology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000473:pathology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011699:Putamen / Q000473:pathology*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology
C001746:3-methoxytyramine; D011188:Potassium; D004298:Dopamine