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

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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.