Determination of specific IgE in pericardial and cerebrospinal fluids in forensic casework

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize total and specific IgE distribution in postmortem serum as well as pericardial and cerebrospinal fluid samples and evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of total and specific IgE determination in pericardial and cerebrospinal fluids in the forensic setting. Three groups were investigated (non-allergic deaths in non-atopic individuals, fatal allergic anaphylaxis deaths and non-allergic deaths in individuals without medical records). In the first group (non-allergic deaths in non-atopic individuals), total IgE concentrations in postmortem serum from femoral blood, pericardial and cerebrospinal fluids were lower than 40, 32 and 11kU/l, respectively. No specific IgE were identified in any of the sampled fluids. In the second group (fatal allergic anaphylaxis deaths), total IgE concentrations in postmortem serum from femoral blood ranged from 139kU/l to 818kU/l, in pericardial fluid from 89kU/l to 622kU/l and in cerebrospinal fluid from 4kU/l to 11kU/l. A positive Phadiatop® test and specific IgE antibodies >0.35kU/l were found exclusively in postmortem serum from femoral blood and pericardial fluid. In the third group (non-allergic deaths in individuals without medical records, possibly including atopic individuals), total IgE concentrations ranged from 42kU/l to 516kU/l in postmortem serum from femoral blood, from 34kU/l to 417kU/l in pericardial fluid and from 3kU/l to 12kU/l in cerebrospinal fluid. A positive Phadiatop® test and specific IgE antibodies >0.35kU/l were found exclusively in postmortem serum from femoral blood and pericardial fluid. These results seem to suggest that total and specific IgE may be measured in postmortem serum from femoral blood and pericardial fluid to estimate total and specific IgE titers at the time of death. Conversely, cerebrospinal fluid total and specific IgE measurement in suspected IgE mediated fatal anaphylaxis cases is of no value for diagnostic purposes.