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COMMENTARY |
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Year : 2015 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 3 | Page : 318-319 |
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Vitreous potassium concentration as a prediction of postmortem interval in injury (trauma) cases: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care center in rural Haryana
Ajay Ghangale
Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Date of Web Publication | 15-May-2015 |
Correspondence Address: Ajay Ghangale Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, Maharashtra India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |

How to cite this article: Ghangale A. Vitreous potassium concentration as a prediction of postmortem interval in injury (trauma) cases: A cross-sectional study from a tertiary care center in rural Haryana. Med J DY Patil Univ 2015;8:318-9 |
There is a linear relationship between the increase in the vitreous potassium (K) concentration with increase in postmortem interval. Hence, potassium (K) ion level measurement in the vitreous humor is one of the most accurate methods of estimating postmortem interval. [1],[2]
The potassium level in vitreous rises due to the autolysis of the vascular chlorosis and retinal cells of the eye that releases a substantial amount of potassium into the vitreous humor. [3]
Vitreous humor is easy to collect sample during postmortem examination as it is free from contamination by bacteria and autolysis. [4]
Bohra et al. studied all types of 200 cases, out of which 127 (43%) were of trauma cases and Overall range of time since death was up to 72 h. [5]
Garg et al. studied 200 cases out of which 176 was non burn cases, and potassium levels were found to increase up to 104 h. Potassium value in burn cases is found to be higher than the nonburn cases. Level of potassium in the vitreous humor is found to be same in both eyes samples taken at the same time. Factor like age, sex cause of death, and environment temperature did not influence potassium level in the vitreous humor. [6]
There is limited value of estimation time, since death and potassium concentration in the vitreous humor due to no uniformity in their statistical equations and conclusions drawn by various authors. Hence, there is a need for further exploration of the topic.
There is a need of further study that correlates electrolyte concentration of blood at the time of death and vitreous humor potassium concentration. [7]
There is a precise need of study of (3-methoxtyramine) in the putamen of the brain in combination with a vitreous potassium to estimate the time since death. [8]
References | |  |
1. | Sturner WQ, Gantner GE Jr. The postmortem interval. A study of potassium in the vitreous humor. Am J Clin Pathol 1964;42:137-44.  [ PUBMED] |
2. | Muñoz Barús JI, Suárez-Peñaranda J, Otero XL, Rodríguez-Calvo MS, Costas E, Miguéns X, et al. Improved estimation of postmortem interval based on differential behaviour of vitreous potassium and hypoxantine in death by hanging. Forensic Sci Int 2002;125:67-74. |
3. | Lie JT. Changes of potassium concentration in the vitreous humor after death. Am J Med Sci 1967;254:136-43.  [ PUBMED] |
4. | Saugstad OD, Olaisen B. Post-mortem hypoxanthine levels in the vitreous humour. An introductory report. Forensic Sci 1978;12:33-6.  [ PUBMED] |
5. | Bohra B, Verma R, Mathur IB, Sharma Y, Khangwal VP, Joshi M. Estimation of Postmortem interval by measuring potassium level in vitreous humor. J Indian Acad Forensic Med 2014;36:374-8. |
6. | Garg V, Oberoy SS, Gorea RK, Kaur K. Changes in the levels of vitreous potassium with increasing time since death. J Indian Acad Forensic Med 2004;26:136-9. |
7. | Madea B, Henssage C. Eye changes after death. In: Henssage C, Knight B, editors. The Estimation of the Time Since Death in the Early Postmortem Period. London: Arnold Publishers; 1995. p. 106-37. |
8. | James RA, Hoadley PA, Sampson BG. Determination of postmortem interval by sampling vitreous humour. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1997;18:158-62. |
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