Forensic application of biochemical blood analysis - Studies on CPK and LDH isozymes

We analyzed CPK and LDH isozymes of the plasma of cadavers, which give indication of muscle damage in normal blood. The isozyme patterns in cadaveric plasma were different from those in normal plasma. The patterns were classified into five groups in CPK and four groups in LDH, respectively. We could not detect obvious correlation between the cause of death and each classified groups in CPK. In comparison with CPK, we detect the clear relation between the cause of death and isozyme patterns in LDH. All cases of LDH 1 and 5 predominant or LDH 1, 2 and 5 predominant groups had myocardial infarction or other myocardial damage. So LDH isozyme pattern was informative for antemortem cardiac conditions of the cadaver and considered to be useful for conjecturing myocardial damage of the cadaver at least within 24 hours after death.