Abstract :
The aim of this study has been carried out to study the correlation between Vitreous Humor Potassium Levels and the Time of bleeding-caused Death, and to find a formula proposed to calculate the post mortem interval (PMI) by finding the regression equation, in addition, to study the effects of environmental factors like temperature, humidity, age and sex on it. The study was carried out in Homs Medical Center, Syria. 108 cases (90male and 18female) were brought to the mortuary during the period March 2015 to February 2018. The vitreous humor fluid was taken from one of the eyes just before the commencement of medico legal examination and refrigerated at temperature (-20°). The samples for vitreous humor potassium were analyzed on Easylyte® Calcium N/K/Ca/PH ANALYZER by the Ion selective method. The reagent used was from Medica Company, USA. There was positive linear relationship between vitreous potassium concentration and PMI (R=0.943), the slope of regression was 0.248mEq/L/hrs, the intercept was 4.547mEq/L/hrs. And the proposed formula is (PMI = 4.03 xK–18.33) within the temperature range 2°-31° and there was no significant effect of temperature, humidity, sex and age on vitreous potassium level after death. Conclusion: This present formula proposed will improve the accuracy of determination the PMI. We still need other studies from other cities in Syria, as of different environment may affect potassium concentration.
Keyword :
Post-mortem interval, Potassium, Time since death, Vitreous humor, Vitreous fluid.