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Stimulation of postmortem platelets with adenosine-5-diphosphate and epinephrine
1Department of Forensic Medicine, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany.
Forensic Science International
|October 27, 1997
Summary
Postmortem platelet aggregation studies reveal impaired platelet release reactions within 10 hours of death. This finding supports using platelet aggregation to estimate time of death and differentiate hematomas.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Hematology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Platelet aggregation is crucial for hemostasis.
- Previous research assessed postmortem platelet aggregation induced by collagen and arachidonic acid.
- Understanding early postmortem changes in platelet function is vital for forensic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of adenosine-5-diphosphate (ADP) and epinephrine on postmortem platelet aggregation.
- To determine the feasibility of using postmortem platelet aggregation for estimating time of death.
- To differentiate between intravital and postmortem hematomas based on platelet behavior.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of platelet aggregation in 463 blood samples within the first 10 hours postmortem (hpm).
- Stimulation of platelets with various concentrations of ADP and epinephrine.
- Assessment of 1st order (reversible) and 2nd order (irreversible) aggregation patterns.
Main Results:
- Low concentrations of ADP and epinephrine induced only reversible 1st order aggregation.
- Irreversible 2nd order aggregation, indicative of the platelet release reaction, was not observed.
- Platelet release reactions are impaired early in the postmortem period due to environmental changes.
Conclusions:
- The platelet release reaction is compromised within the initial 10 hours postmortem.
- Postmortem platelet aggregation patterns can serve as a forensic tool for estimating time since death.
- This method aids in distinguishing between hematomas formed before and after death.