Correlation of actual time since death with estimated time of death by measuring proteins concentration in cadaveric cerebrospinal fluid

Abstract

Background and Objective: Postmortem Interval (PMI) is the time interval from death upto conducting autopsy of deceased. PMI is an overbearing perspective of medical jurisprudence used to support beholders claim, corroborate the potential in provided proof and serve as evidence for further action. The objective of this study is to estimate the time since death by measuring proteins concentration in cadaveric cerebrospinal fluid.
 Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted at Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Department of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore for 1 year from February 2022 to 2023 in 50 dead bodies included through non probability consecutive sampling. After informed consent, CSF sample was taken by using lumbar puncture technique and quantitative values of proteins were obtained automatically through auto-biochemical analyzer. Data was analyzed through SPSS version 25. The relation between time of death and time estimated on CSF proteins was measured by calculating Pearson’s correlation coefficient. P-value ≤ 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
 Results: Out of 50 bodies, 25 (50%) were male bodies and 25 (50%) were female bodies. The female to male ratio was 1: 1. Mean actual time of death was 73.46 ± 33.82 hours, while the estimated time of death on CSF protein assessment was 71.54 ± 31.92 hours. The mean CSF fluid level was observed was 170.26 ± 88.61 mm3. A significantly strong positive correlation was observed between time estimated by using protein level in CSF fluid and actual time of death i.e. r =0.952 (p-value <0.0001).
 Conclusion: CSF proteins have good correlation value for postmortem interval. It can be beneficial in estimating time of death in unknown bodies.