Comparison of the Beta-hydroxybutyrate, Glucose, and Lactate Concentrations Derived from Postmortem Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Biochemical Analysis for the Diagnosis of Fatal Metabolic Disorders

Overview

Journal Int J Legal Med

Specialty Forensic Sciences

Date 2020 Jan 5

PMID 31900626

Citations 2

Authors

Jakob Heimer

Dominic Gascho

Burkhard Madea

Andrea Steuer

Rosa Maria Martinez

Michael J Thali

Niklaus Zoelch

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The detection and quantification of metabolites relevant for the diagnosis of fatal metabolic disorders by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) was recently demonstrated. This prospective study aimed to compare the concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose (GLC), and lactate (LAC) derived from both biochemical analyses and 1H-MRS for the diagnosis of fatal metabolic disorders.

Methods: In total, 20 cases with suspected fatal metabolic disorders were included in the study. For the agreement based on thresholds, the concentrations of BHB and GLC in the vitreous humor (VH) from the right vitreous and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the right lateral ventricle were derived from 1H-MRS and biochemical analyses. The predefined thresholds for pathological elevations were 2.5 mmol/l for BHB and 10 mmol/l for GLC based on the literature. In addition, concentrations of the same metabolites in white matter (WM) tissue from the corona radiata of the right hemisphere were analyzed experimentally using both methods. To enable the biochemical analysis, a dialysate of WM tissue was produced. For all three regions, the LAC concentration was determined by both methods.

Results: The conclusive agreement based on thresholds was almost perfect between both methods with only one disagreement in a total of 70 comparisons due to the interference of a ferromagnetic dental brace. The differences in the concentrations between both methods showed high standard deviations. Confidence intervals of the bias not including 0 were found in CSF-GLC (- 3.1 mmol/l), WM-GLC (1.1 mmol/l), and WM-LAC (- 6.5 mmol/l).

Conclusion: Despite a considerable total error attributable to both methods, MRS derives the same forensic conclusions as conventional biochemical analyses. An adaptation of the protocol to reduce the detected errors and more data are needed for the long-term validation of MRS for the diagnosis of fatal metabolic disorders. The production of WM dialysates cannot be recommended due to high glycolytic loss.

Citing Articles

The Importance of BHB Testing on the Post-Mortem Diagnosis of Ketoacidosis.

Ahlstrom S, Ahlner J, Jonsson A, Green H Biomolecules. 2022; 12(1).

PMID: 35053157 PMC: 8774197. DOI: 10.3390/biom12010009.

Usefulness of a blood glucose and ketone monitoring device as a screening tool for lethal diabetic ketoacidosis.

Peyron P, Plawecki M, Lossois M, Lotierzo M, Baccino E, Cristol J Int J Legal Med. 2020; 135(1):293-299.

PMID: 32556493 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02343-8.

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