title: The use of pilocarpine eye drops for estimating the time since death.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to estimate the time since death using pilocarpine eye drops.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 100 postmortem cases with known time of death were included. In each case, the left pupil was measured in millimeter units using a vernier caliper, and pilocarpine eye drops were applied. The pupil was measured again 10 min later, and statistical analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the time since death and the change in the pupil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The longest duration since death that the pupils showed reaction to pilocarpine was 15 h. The correlation between the change in the pupil and the postmortem interval was found (Spearman's rho, r = -0.304, p = 0.002), and the change in the pupil may be used to predict the postmortem interval by the following regression equation: postmortem interval (PMI) = 8.310-3.702 (Diff) ± 0.735 (PMI was postmortem interval in hours and Diff was the difference in the size of the pupil after administering pilocarpine in millimeter units).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that pilocarpine eye drops can be used to estimate the time since death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sadudee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larpkrajang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: wisarn.forensic@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wisarn
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Worasuwannarak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Vichan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Peonim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jitta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Udnoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Smith
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srisont
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008916:Miotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008916:Miotics; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010862:Pilocarpine
keywords: Forensic medicine; Pilocarpine; Postmortem interval; Supravital reaction; Time since death