Possible Diagnostic Value of Plasma Prostaglandin Levels in Forensic Autopsy Cases : The Significantly Low Ratio of 6-keto-Prostaglandin F_1 Alpha to Thromboxane B_2 in Person Dying of Cardiovascular Disease

摘要

In the present study, the concentrations of eight kinds of prostagladin (PG) in plasma samples obtained at forensic autopsy of 73 persons aged between 0 to 84 years were analyzed with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Possible differences in PG behavior in relation to the cause of death and the postmortem interval was clarified by studying concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglan-din F_1 alpha (6-keto-PGF_1α), the stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI_2), and of thromboxane (TX) B_2, the stable metabolite of TXA_2. The measurements of PGs with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were not affected by the postmortem interval or by age, and the ratios of 6-keto-PGF_1α to TXB_2 in persons dying of cardiovascular disease were significantly lower than in other persons.