Demonstration of myocardial necrosis in the presence of advanced putrefaction

Samples of heart tissue were investigated in two series for the detectability of myocardial necrosis after artificial and natural putrefaction, respectively. In the first series heart tissue with and without infarction was artificially subjected to humid and dry autolysis and putrefaction. In the second investigation heart tissue was obtained from exhumed bodies after periods 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 methods tested, this was by far the most sensitive method with a high robustness against putrefaction. NP57, which indicates neutrophilic leucocytes could be demonstrated considerably longer after humid putrefaction than after dry putrefaction, The time limits of detection were considerably longer than for H&E. These two methods are the methods of choice for the detection of myocardial infarction and leucocyte infiltration in advanced stages of putrefaction.