Immunohistochemical expression of fibronectin and C5b-9 in the myocardium in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Fracasso T, Pfeiffer H, Michaud K, Köhler H, Sauerland C, Schmeling A

Research article (journal)

Abstract

Even if there is clinical evidence that carbon monoxide poisoning determines cardiac damage, the literature on the cardiac pathomorphology in such cases is scarce. We investigated the immunohistochemical expression of two known markers of fresh cardiac damage, fibronectin and the terminal complement complex C5b-9, in both cardiac ventricles in 26 cases of CO intoxication (study group, 15 ?, 11 ?, mean age 47 years, mean COHb level 65.9%, min. 51%, max. 85%) compared to a group of 23 cases of hanging (n = 23, 4?, 19?, mean age 42 years) as well as to 25 cases of myocardial infarction (n = 25, 13?, 12?, mean age 64 years). Fresh cardiac damage was detected with the antibody fibronectin in cases of CO poisoning and was prevalently localised at the right ventricle.

Details about the publication

JournalInternational Journal of Legal Medicine (Int J Legal Med)
Volume125
Issue3
Page range377-384
StatusPublished
Release year2011
Language in which the publication is writtenEnglish

Authors from the University of Münster

Köhler, Helga
Institute of Forensic Medicine
Pfeiffer, Heidi
Institute of Forensic Medicine
Sauerland, Maria Cristina
Institute of Medical Informatics
Schmeling, Andreas
Institute of Forensic Medicine