[Myofibril degeneration of heart muscle: diagnostic value of selected forensic pathology case material]

Information on the incidence of myofibrillary degeneration (MFD) was obtained by investigating the hearts of seven groups of cases with different forensic diagnosis using luxol fast blue as a staining method. The following diagnostic groups were examined: acute morphine intoxication, acute carbon monoxide intoxication, hanging, strangling by hand and/or ligature, drowning, acute hemorrhagic shock and sudden infant death syndrome. MFD positive cases were found in all diagnostic groups, but the morphologic expression of MFD as well the number of cases per group differed: The phenomenon of cytoplasmatic banding could be observed in nearly all cases of hanging, strangling and acute hemorrhagic shock; the phenomenon of diffuse cytoplasmatic staining in most cases of drowning. The diagnostic importance is discussed.