ABSTRACT
The potential of skin measurements of D-dimer (DD), a specific derivative of crosslinked fibrin, for the diagnosis of the vital origin of wounds was investigated in 67 human vital skin wounds and homolateral control pieces of skin from 53 autopsies performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Coimbra (Portugal) during 1992. Our results demonstrate that DD levels for the incised vital skin wounds (n = 50) were much higher on average than their controls (P < 0.01) which were actually incised injuries produced postmortem at the autopsy. We did not find any statistical difference in average DD levels among the remaining injuries (seven abrasions and ten contusions) in comparison to their respective controls. DD may be used, with certain limitations, as a marker of the vitality of incised wounds. The authors believe this is the first time this marker has been applied in forensic pathology. It is an example of an easy and quick application technique, with the added advantage of low cost.
Subject(s)
Contusions/pathology , Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products/analysis , Postmortem Changes , Wounds, Penetrating/pathology , Autopsy , Biomarkers/analysis , Fibrinogen/analysis , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Lung/drug effects , Paraquat/poisoning , Autopsy , Humans , Lung/pathology , Poisoning/pathology , SuicideABSTRACT
We report a case of homicide by hanging of a 29-year-old woman that was committed by her husband, who nearly escaped from justice. We offer some reflections on the rarity of this method of mechanical asphyxia in cases of homicide, and on the difficulties in the diagnosis of the medico-legal etiology of these situations. We also offer a short review of similar cases in the medico-legal literature.
