Demonstration of myocardial necrosis in the presence of advanced putrefaction

Samples of heart tissue were investigated in two series for the detectabili ty of myocardial necrosis after artificial and natural putrefaction, respec tively. In the first series heart tissue with and without infarction was ar tificially subjected to humid and dry autolysis and putrefaction. In the se cond investigation heart tissue was obtained from exhumed bodies after peri ods of burial ranging between 10 and 929 days. Besides histology a variety of immunohistochemical markers were applied and C5b-9 gave positive results even after long periods of artificial and natural putrefaction. From the m ethods tested, this was by far the most sensitive method with a high robust ness against putrefaction. NP57, which indicates neutrophilic leucocytes co uld be demonstrated considerably longer after humid putrefaction than after dry putrefaction, The time limits of detection were considerably longer th an for H&E. These two methods are the methods of choice for the detection o f myocardial infarction and leucocyte infiltration in advanced stages of pu trefaction.