Publication: Biochemical analysis and immunohistochemical determination of cardiac troponin for the postmortem
diagnosis of myocardial damage
Authors
Martínez Díaz, F. ; Rodríguez Morlensín, Mercedes ; Pérez Cárceles, María Dolores ; Luna, A. ; Osuna Carrillo-Albornoz, Eduardo Javier ; Noguera Velasco, José Antonio
item.page.secondaryauthor
item.page.director
Publisher
Murcia : F. Hernández
publication.page.editor
publication.page.department
DOI
item.page.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
Cardiac disease is the most common cause of
sudden death in Western nations. In forensic practice
there is a need for more sensitive diagnostic methods for
the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial damage. The
aim of this study was to analyse the diagnostic efficacy
of biochemical markers in cadaver fluids in conjunction
with histological studies and the immunohistochemical
determination of cardiac troponin C (cTnC) and cardiac
troponin T (cTnT) levels in myocardial tissue fixed in
formol and included in paraffin. We studied 50 cadavers
(43 males and 7 females) with a mean age of 47.5 years
(SD 19.2; range 12 to 87 years). Cases were chosen
according to the postmortem interval, cause of death,
and circumstances of death. Pericardial fluid and serum
were tested in duplicate for cardiac troponin I (cTn I),
myoglobin and CKMB by immunoassay system using
commercial kits. In myocardial tissue, histological
studies were performed with hematoxylin and eosin
(H&E), Masson’s trichrome staining and
immunohistochemical techniques involving streptavidinbiotin-
peroxidase were performed. The results pointed to
statistically significant differences for all the
biochemical markers in pericardial fluid. The highest
levels were obtained in the group of cadavers who had
died from myocardial infarction. The
immunohistochemical expression of cTnC was detected
in 86% of cases; it was strongly positive and usually
diffuse. The expression of cTnT, was much less frequent
(46% of cases) and less intense. It was concluded that
the immunohistochemical determination of cTnC and
cTnT levels in myocardial tissue may be used as an
index of myocardium damage.
publication.page.subject
Citation
item.page.embargo
Ir a Estadísticas
Sin licencia Creative Commons.