Titre du document / Document title

The investigation of beta-hydroxybutyrate as a marker for sudden death due to hypoglycemia in alcoholics

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

DENMARK L. N. ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

Office chiel medical examiner, P.O. Box 2257, Edmonton AB T5J 2P4, CANADA

Résumé / Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HBA) is a useful positive marker for sudden deaths in chronic alcoholics, thought to be due to hypoglycemia. Beta-HBA can be reliably measured in postmortem samples of vitreous humour and urine. In fatalities where there is a history of chronic alcoholism and routine investigations, including autopsy and routine toxicology, yield only a fatty liver as positive findings, a raised level of beta-HBA can be used as an indicator for alcoholic ketosis. Alcoholic ketosis is often associated with antemortem hypoglycemia. Caution should be observed in attributing the significance of ketosis exclusively to alcohol in those conditions where it would otherwise be expected (i.e. diabetic ketoacidosis and chronic starvation)

Revue / Journal Title

Forensic science international   ISSN 0379-0738   CODEN FSINDR 

Source / Source

1993, vol. 62, n^o3, pp. 225-232 (11 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Elsevier, Kidlington, ROYAUME-UNI  (1978) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Hypoglycemia ; Alcoholism ; Sudden death ; Ketose ; Pathophysiology ; Toxicity ; Legal medicine ; Human ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Hypoglycémie ; Alcoolisme ; Mort subite ; Cétose ; Physiopathologie ; Toxicité ; Médecine légale ; Homme ; Butyrate(hydroxy) ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Hipoglicemia ; Alcoholismo ; Muerte súbita ; Cetosa ; Fisiopatología ; Toxicidad ; Medicina legal ; Hombre ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 15440, 35400002434430.0050