Premium
Increased Adrenaline to Noradrenaline Ratio Is a Superior Indicator of Antemortem Hypothermia Compared with Separate Catecholamine Concentrations
Author(s) -
Pakanen Lasse,
Kortelainen MarjaLeena,
Särkioja Terttu,
Porvari Katja
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01805.x
Subject(s) - hypothermia , catecholamine , medicine , epinephrine , autopsy , anesthesia
The significance of urinary catecholamines and small gastric mucosal bleedings, Wischnewsky’s spots, in postmortem diagnosis of hypothermia deaths was evaluated. Autopsy cases ( n = 358) were divided into hypothermia, suspected hypothermia, and control groups. The catecholamine levels did not correlate with the length of the postmortem period. The adrenaline to noradrenaline ratio was most effective in detecting hypothermia (68.9% sensitivity, 78.1% specificity). The median adrenaline concentrations were significantly higher in hypothermia than in control groups. The control group containing mostly sudden cardiac deaths with no cold exposure had a noradrenaline level comparable to the hypothermia groups. The sensitivity and specificity of determining Wischnewsky’s spots in hypothermia deaths were 63.9% and 88.3%, respectively. The adrenaline to noradrenaline ratio is more suitable in proving antemortem cold stress than either of these independently, and its diagnostic value is comparable to that of Wischnewsky’s spots.