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Susceptibility of C5b-9(m) to postmortem changes

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Summary

C5b-9(m) is a specific and sensitive marker for myocardial cell necrosis. The diagnostic value of this marker would be considerably limited in forensic practice if its immuno-histochemical demonstration were hampered by putrefaction or autolysis. We could demonstrate C5b-9(m) immunohistochemically in necrotic myocardium due to infarction up to the 11th day of experimentally induced putrefaction and autolysis, when reliable demonstration of myocardial infarction with hematoxylin-eosin was no longer possible. Under the experimental conditions of this study, no false positive immunohistochemical staining occurred.

Zusammenfassung

C5b-9(m) ist ein spezifischer und sensitiver Marker für Myokardzellnekrosen. Sein diagnostischer Wert in der forensischen Praxis wäre aber stark eingeschränkt, wenn die immunhistologische Darstellung des Komplexes empfindlich gegen Autolyse und Fäulnis wäre. Wir konnten auch nach elftägiger experimentell forcierter Autolyse und Fäulnis C5b-9(m) immunhistochemisch in infarziertem Myokard sicher nachweisen. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt wäre die Diagnose eines Myokardinfarktes in der Hämatoxylin-Eosin-Färbung nicht mehr möglich gewesen. Im Untersuchungszeitraum waren falsch positive immunhistologische Färbungen nicht zu beobachten.

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Thomsen, H., Held, H. Susceptibility of C5b-9(m) to postmortem changes. Int J Leg Med 106, 291–293 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01224773

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01224773

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