TY - JOUR
T1 - A new method to determine wound age in early vital skin injuries
T2 - a probability scoring system using expression levels of Fibronectin, CD62p and Factor VIII in wound hemorrhage
AU - van der Goot, F.R.W.
AU - Korkmaz, H.I.
AU - Fronczek, J.
AU - Witte, B.I.
AU - Visser, R.
AU - Ulrich, M.M.W.
AU - Begieneman, M.P.V.
AU - Rozendaal, L.
AU - Krijnen, P.A.J.
AU - Niessen, H.W.M.
PY - 2014/11
Y1 - 2014/11
N2 - PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: In forensic autopsies it is important to determine the age of early vital skin wounds as accurate as possible. In addition to inflammation, coagulation is also induced in vital wounds. Analysis of blood coagulation markers in wound hemorrhage could therefore be an important additional discriminating factor in wound age determination. The aim of this study was to develop a wound age probability scoring system, based on the immunohistochemical expression levels of Fibronectin, CD62p and Factor VIII in wound hemorrhage.METHODS: Tissue samples of (A) non injured control skin (n=383), and samples of mechanically induced skin injuries of known wound age, (B) injuries inflicted shortly before death (up to a few minutes old) (n=382), and (C) injuries inflicted 15-30 min before death (n=42) were obtained at autopsy in order to validate wound age estimation. Tissue slides were stained for Fibronectin, CD62p and Factor VIII and were subsequently scored for staining intensity (IHC score) in wound hemorrhage (1=minor, 2=moderate, 3=strong positive). Finally, probability scores of these markers were calculated.RESULTS: In at most 14% of the non-injured control samples, hemorrhage was found, with mean±standard deviation IHC scores of 0.1±0.4, 0.2±0.4 and 0.2±0.5 for Fibronectin, CD62p, and Factor VIII, respectively. Expression of these markers significantly increased to mean IHC scores 1.4±0.8 (Fibronectin), 1.2±0.6 (CD62p), and 1.6±0.8 (Factor VIII) in wounds inflicted shortly before death (few minutes old) and to 2.6±0.5 (Fibronectin), 2.5±0.6 (CD62p), and 2.8±0.4 (Factor VIII) in 15-30 min old wounds. The probabilities that a wound was non vital in case of an IH score 0 were 87%, 88% and 90% for Fibronectin, CD62p, and Factor VIII, respectively. In case of an IHC score 1 or 2, the probabilities that a wound was a few minutes old were 82/90%, 82/83% and 72/93%. Finally, in case of an IHC score 3, the probabilities that a wound was 15-30 min old were 65%, 76% and 55%.CONCLUSIONS: Based on the expression of Fibronectin, CD62p and Factor VIII in wound hemorrhage, we developed a probability scoring system that can be used in forensic autopsies to improve wound age estimation in early skin injuries.
AB - PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: In forensic autopsies it is important to determine the age of early vital skin wounds as accurate as possible. In addition to inflammation, coagulation is also induced in vital wounds. Analysis of blood coagulation markers in wound hemorrhage could therefore be an important additional discriminating factor in wound age determination. The aim of this study was to develop a wound age probability scoring system, based on the immunohistochemical expression levels of Fibronectin, CD62p and Factor VIII in wound hemorrhage.METHODS: Tissue samples of (A) non injured control skin (n=383), and samples of mechanically induced skin injuries of known wound age, (B) injuries inflicted shortly before death (up to a few minutes old) (n=382), and (C) injuries inflicted 15-30 min before death (n=42) were obtained at autopsy in order to validate wound age estimation. Tissue slides were stained for Fibronectin, CD62p and Factor VIII and were subsequently scored for staining intensity (IHC score) in wound hemorrhage (1=minor, 2=moderate, 3=strong positive). Finally, probability scores of these markers were calculated.RESULTS: In at most 14% of the non-injured control samples, hemorrhage was found, with mean±standard deviation IHC scores of 0.1±0.4, 0.2±0.4 and 0.2±0.5 for Fibronectin, CD62p, and Factor VIII, respectively. Expression of these markers significantly increased to mean IHC scores 1.4±0.8 (Fibronectin), 1.2±0.6 (CD62p), and 1.6±0.8 (Factor VIII) in wounds inflicted shortly before death (few minutes old) and to 2.6±0.5 (Fibronectin), 2.5±0.6 (CD62p), and 2.8±0.4 (Factor VIII) in 15-30 min old wounds. The probabilities that a wound was non vital in case of an IH score 0 were 87%, 88% and 90% for Fibronectin, CD62p, and Factor VIII, respectively. In case of an IHC score 1 or 2, the probabilities that a wound was a few minutes old were 82/90%, 82/83% and 72/93%. Finally, in case of an IHC score 3, the probabilities that a wound was 15-30 min old were 65%, 76% and 55%.CONCLUSIONS: Based on the expression of Fibronectin, CD62p and Factor VIII in wound hemorrhage, we developed a probability scoring system that can be used in forensic autopsies to improve wound age estimation in early skin injuries.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Biomarkers
KW - Case-Control Studies
KW - Child
KW - Child, Preschool
KW - Factor VIII
KW - Fibronectins
KW - Forensic Pathology
KW - Hemorrhage
KW - Humans
KW - Immunohistochemistry
KW - Infant
KW - Infant, Newborn
KW - Journal Article
KW - Middle Aged
KW - P-Selectin
KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
KW - Skin
KW - Time Factors
KW - Wounds, Nonpenetrating
KW - Young Adult
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.08.015
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2014.08.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 25233021
SN - 0379-0738
VL - 244
SP - 128
EP - 135
JO - Forensic Science International
JF - Forensic Science International
ER -