Myoglobin concentrations of cadaver blood in fatal electric injuries
Pankratz, H.; Liebhardt, E.
Beitrage Zur Gerichtlichen Medizin 48: 325-327
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0067-5016 PMID: 2241810 Document Number: 353994
In cases of death due to electrical current frequently autopsies do not reveal makroscopic findings. Recent reports indicated, that an increased concentration of myoglobin in blood sampled from the heart and femoral vein as a sign of membraneous alteration related to electrical current passing the human body is applicable to prove death from electricity, as far as other factors extremely influencing myoglobin concentration can be excluded. Determination of myoglobin by radioimmunoassay performed on 5 cases of death caused by electrical current, 3 cases of sudden death due to heart disease and several other causes of death did not verify any correlation between myoglobin concentration and causes of death.