Plasma Thyroglobulin as an Indicator of Mechanical Asphyxia—Comparison of Plasma Thyroglobulin Levels by Radioimmunoassay and the Results of Precipitation-Electrophoresis

Abstract

Thyroglobulin levels in the plasma of victims of mechanical asphyxia or other causes of death were determined by radioimmunoassay, and the results were compared with those obtained by precipitation-electrophoresis. The plasmas containing over 190 ng/0.1 ml of thyroglobulin showed positive reaction by the precipitation-electrophoresis and were restricted to the victims of mechanical asphyxia. Four out of 15 samples of mechanical asphyxia showed plasma levels of 29–170 ng/0.1 ml and 5 out of 15 levels of 0.10 ng/0.1 ml. Ten samples obtained from victims of other causes of death showed the levels of 0–10 ng/0.1 ml except for the two victims suspected of suffering a bruise on their neck region (144 and 116 ng/0.1 ml). The simple precipitation-electrophoresis technique was recommended as the supplementary test for the diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia.