Determination of Postmortem Interval by Estimating CSF Proteins Concentration after Death, by Dye Binding Method at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Introduction: Postmortem interval (PMI) is the time lapse between death of a person and its postmortem examination i.e. autopsy. Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is an imperative perspective of forensic medicine.

Aims & Objectives: This study was conducted to see the impact of CSF protein estimation on determination of PMI.

Place and duration of study: It was an observational correlational study, conducted for one year at Department of Forensic Medicine, King Edward Medical University Lahore.

Material & Methods: A total of 119 cadavers were included in this study. Chemicals used were disodium molybdate, pyrogallol, succinic acid. The minimum detectable concentration of total proteins in CSF with dye binding method using pyrogallol red was determined as 0.022g/l. Two ml of CSF was taken from each cadaver. Clear, colorless samples were taken in test tubes. Turbid and blood contained samples were not included in study. Protein concentration was determined using photospectrometry. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS-23. Quantitative variables like age were presented as mean ± SD. Qualitative variables like gender were presented as frequency and percentages. For comparison between PMI and CSF proteins concentration correlation was applied.

Results: Males accounted for majority of our subjects. The mean value of proteins in CSF was 219.91± 113.121 mg/dl. The most common PMI was 11 to 20 hours. CSF proteins increased gradually over 72 hours after death. The results of present study showed a significant positive correlation between time of death and CSF proteins concentration after death.

Conclusion: It is observed that as a whole protein concentration increased with increasing time of death. Hence, CSF protein concentration can be used in estimating time since death.