[Intra-individual changes in potassium in the cerebrospinal fluid after death]

In cases of sudden death with known postmortem interval multiple determinations of potassium concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid at defined intervals were done. The values of intraindividual potassium levels were compared to a regression-line obtained in a former investigation from 76 determinations of 76 different bodies. Estimation of postmortem interval by extrapolation of potassium levels to zero time of change is not reliable.