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The effect of lethal electrical shock on postmortem serum myoglobin concentrations
A Fieguth1, G Schumann, H D Tröger
1Institute of Legal Medicine, Medical School Hannover, Germany.
Insights
Postmortem serum myoglobin levels increase with time after death, regardless of cause. While electrical fatalities showed some differences, myoglobin levels alone are insufficient to confirm electrocution.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Pathology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Serum myoglobin is a protein released from muscle tissue.
- Elevated myoglobin can indicate muscle damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare postmortem serum myoglobin concentrations in electrical fatalities versus other causes of death.
- To investigate the influence of postmortem interval and withdrawal site on myoglobin levels.
Main Methods:
- Serum myoglobin was measured in peripheral and central blood samples.
- Samples were collected from nine electrical fatalities and 74 controls.
- Concentrations were analyzed in relation to postmortem interval and cause of death.
Main Results:
- Serum myoglobin concentrations increased significantly with postmortem time in all cases.
- In 59% of cases, central blood had higher myoglobin than peripheral blood.
- A statistically significant difference in myoglobin was observed between electrical fatalities and controls up to two days postmortem, with wide overlapping values.
Conclusions:
- Postmortem serum myoglobin levels are influenced by time since death and potentially by electrical current-induced muscle cramps.
- Myoglobin concentrations alone are not sufficient to diagnose intravital electrical exposure.
- Interpretation requires knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the death, particularly electrical incidents.
Abstract:
Postmortem serum myoglobin concentrations in blood from the femoral vein (peripheral withdrawal) and the heart (central withdrawal) of nine electrical fatalities were compared with those of 74 individuals who had died of other causes. Independent of the cause of death or topographical site, serum myoglobin concentrations rose dramatically with the passage of postmortem time (maximum concentrations in the control group: 975,100 micrograms/l). In 59% of the total sample (electrical fatalities plus controls), serum myoglobin concentrations were higher in the central blood, in the other 41% the concentrations were higher in the peripheral blood. The differences in concentrations between the peripheral and the central withdrawal area correlated with neither the postmortem interval nor the cause of death. Up to the second day postmortem there was a statistically significant difference in serum myoglobin concentrations between electrical fatalities and controls. The individual values within each group, however, varied widely and overlapped between groups. Controls who had also suffered muscle injury (polytrauma, myocardial infarction) did not have significantly higher serum myoglobin concentrations than controls without muscle injury. Myoglobin concentrations appear to be greatly influenced by the extent and duration of the muscle cramps induced by the electrical current. Correct interpretation of serum myoglobin concentrations depends on the knowledge of events surrounding the lethal electrical shock. Postmortem determination of serum myoglobin concentrations alone is, therefore, not sufficient to establish intravital exposure to electrical current and can aid the diagnosis only in special cases.