ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 October 1982
Page Count: 3

Postmortem Vitreous Humor in Fatal Acute Iron Poisoning
Steele, B
Associate professor of pathology and director of clinical chemistry, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL

Moskowitz, L
Resident in pathology, University of Miami School of Medicine, FL

Mittleman, RE
Associate medical examiner, Dade County Medical Examiner's Office, FL

(Received 10 December 1981; accepted 25 January 1982)

Abstract

The postmortem level of iron in the vitreous humor was assayed in a case of treated fatal iron poisoning. An antemortem serum iron level was 9060μg/dL and postmortem blood level was 2920 μg/dL. A postmortem vitreous humor specimen collected by a standard technique had an iron level of 80μg/dL whereas 23 controls had a mean of 12.8 ± 4.2 μg/dL (range, 6 to 21 μg/dL). Although this elevated value could reflect some serum contamination, it may be a reflection of the toxic state.

Keywords:
toxicology, vitreous humor, poisons, iron

Paper ID: JFS12218J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS12218J
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