Pericardial fluid is suitable as an alternative specimen for the measurement of β-hydroxybutyrate within 96 hours after death.

We examined postmortem β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels in the body fluids obtained from 253 forensic autopsy cases with the cause of deaths determined. Postmortem changes of BHB levels according to postmortem intervals in various body fluids (plasma, urine, vitreous humor, and pericardial fluids) were investigated to dete rmine appropriate alternative specimens as plasma samples. Our study has indicated the following points; 1) The BHB levels in plasma specimens of three sampling sites showed no significant differences, 2) postmortem changes of BHB levels in plasma and pericardial fluids could be negligible within 96 hr postmortem intervals (PMI), while urine and vitreous humor BHB levels showed postmortem increase, and 3) pericardial fluid would thus be most suitable as an alternative of plasma in postmortem BHB level.
Source: Legal Medicine - Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Source Type: research