Vitreous humour – routine or alternative material for analysis in forensic medicine

Joanna Markowska; Monika Szopa; Marcin Zawadzki; Wojciech Piekoszewski

doi:10.5114/amsik.2017.73192

eISSN: 1689-1716
ISSN: 0324-8267

Archiwum Medycyny Sądowej i Kryminologii/Archives of Forensic Medicine and Criminology

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3/2017
vol. 67

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abstract:

Review paper

Vitreous humour – routine or alternative material for analysis in forensic medicine

Joanna Markowska

¹

,

Monika Szopa

²

,

Marcin Zawadzki

¹

,

Wojciech Piekoszewski

³

Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland
Biological Recognition Team, Military Center for Preventive Medicine, Wroclaw, Poland
Department of Toxicological and Pharmaceutical Analyzes, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol 2017; 67 (3): 201-213

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/amsik.2017.73192

Online publish date: 2018/02/15

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Biological materials used in toxicological analyses in forensic medicine traditionally include blood, urine and vitreous humour. Forensic use of the vitreous body is mostly due to the need to assess the endogenous concentration of ethyl alcohol in the process of human body decomposition. The vitreous body is an underestimated biological material, even though its biochemical properties and anatomical location make it suitable for specific forensic toxicology tests as a reliable material for the preparation of forensic expert opinions. Based on the available literature the paper gathers information on the biochemical structure of the vitreous body, ways to secure the material after collection and its use in postmortem diagnostics. Specific applications of the vitreous humour for biochemical and toxicological tests are discussed, with a focus on its advantages and limitations in forensic medical assessment which are attributable to its biochemical properties, anatomical location and limited scientific studies on the distribution of xenobiotics in the vitreous body.

keywords:

Vitreous humour – routine or alternative material for analysis in forensic medicine

Joanna Markowska 1 , Monika Szopa 2 , Marcin Zawadzki 1 , Wojciech Piekoszewski 3

xenobiotics, vitreous of the eye, toxicological analysis, post-mortem diagnostics

Joanna Markowska

¹

,

Monika Szopa

²

,

Marcin Zawadzki

¹

,

Wojciech Piekoszewski

³