Pericardial fluid postmortem: Comparative study of natural and violent deaths

Area of Science:

• Forensic Science
• Biochemistry
• Thanatochemistry

Background:

• Postmortem biochemical analysis is crucial in forensic investigations.
• Blood analysis is prone to alterations and contamination after death.
• Alternative biological fluids are sought for reliable postmortem diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pericardial fluid (PF) as a suitable medium for postmortem biochemical analysis.
• To determine concentrations of key biochemical markers in PF.
• To compare PF biochemical profiles between natural and violent deaths.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of urea, creatinine, glucose, CK2, proteins, calcium, sodium, and potassium in PF.
• Comparison of biochemical parameters between natural death and violent death cohorts.
• Statistical analysis using Mann-Whitney's U test.

Main Results:

• No significant intergroup differences were observed for most parameters (creatinine, glucose, CK2, proteins, calcium, sodium, potassium).
• A significant difference (p < .05) was found in urea concentrations between natural and violent death groups.
• Pericardial fluid demonstrated relative stability for several biochemical markers.

Conclusions:

• Pericardial fluid is a potentially valuable alternative to blood for certain postmortem biochemical analyses.
• Urea levels in PF may offer differential diagnostic information between modes of death.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings and expand the scope of PF analysis in forensic toxicology.