title: Usefulness of postmortem biochemistry in forensic pathology: illustrative case reports.
abstract: The aim of this work is to present some practical, postmortem biochemistry applications to illustrate the usefulness of this discipline and reassert the importance of carrying out biochemical investigations as an integral part of the autopsy process. Five case reports are presented pertaining to diabetic ketoacidosis in an adult who was not known to suffer from diabetes and in presence of multiple psychotropic substances; fatal flecainide intoxication in a poor metabolizer also presenting an impaired renal function; diabetic ketoacidosis showing severe postmortem changes; primary aldosteronism presented with intracranial hemorrhage and hypothermia showing severe postmortem changes. The cases herein presented can be considered representative examples of the importance of postmortem biochemistry investigations, which may provide significant information useful in determining the cause of death in routine forensic casework or contribute to understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the death process.
authors.affiliation: University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Genève 4, Switzerland. cristian.palmiere@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Cristian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Palmiere
authors.forename: Maria del Mar
authors.initials: Mdel M
authors.lastname: Lesta
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabatasso
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mangin
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augsburger
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sporkert
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000032:analysis; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000235:genetics; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005424:Flecainide / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D005838:Genotype; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000473:pathology; D007657:Ketone Bodies / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D007657:Ketone Bodies; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D012964:Sodium; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; D005947:Glucose; D005424:Flecainide; D019840:2-Propanol; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid