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01-01-2007 | Original Article

Postmortem pericardial natriuretic peptides as markers of cardiac function in medico-legal autopsies

Authors: Bao-Li Zhu, Takaki Ishikawa, Tomomi Michiue, Dong-Ri Li, Dong Zhao, Sayaka Tanaka, Yasunobu Kamikodai, Kohei Tsuda, Shuji Okazaki, Hitoshi Maeda

Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine | Issue 1/2007

Abstract

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in the blood are clinical markers for the diagnosis of cardiac failure. This study was a comprehensive analysis of the postmortem pericardial levels of the natriuretic peptides in serial medico-legal autopsy cases (n=263, within 72 h postmortem) to assess their validity in investigating cardiac function. There was no significant relationship of pericardial ANP or BNP levels with postmortem time or the age of the subjects. The ANP and BNP levels showed negative correlations with the pericardial cardiac troponin T level. The ANP level was significantly elevated in drowning cases. Pericardial BNP and the BNP/ANP ratio were significantly higher for chronic congestive heart disease. However, asphyxiation, sharp instrument injury, hyperthermia, and fatal MA poisoning cases showed lower levels for both markers. These observations suggest that elevations in the postmortem pericardial ANP and BNP may mainly depend on acute atrial overload and subacute or chronic cardiac failure, respectively, and may be reduced by advanced myocardial damage.

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Title: Postmortem pericardial natriuretic peptides as markers of cardiac function in medico-legal autopsies
Authors: Bao-Li Zhu
Takaki Ishikawa
Tomomi Michiue
Dong-Ri Li
Dong Zhao
Sayaka Tanaka
Yasunobu Kamikodai
Kohei Tsuda
Shuji Okazaki
Hitoshi Maeda
Publication date: 01-01-2007
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Journal of Legal Medicine / Issue 1/2007
Print ISSN: 0937-9827
Electronic ISSN: 1437-1596
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-006-0102-1

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Postmortem pericardial natriuretic peptides as markers of cardiac function in medico-legal autopsies

Abstract

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