Current Status and Advances of Molecular Biomarkers for Forensic Identification of Heatstroke Deaths

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1671-2072.2025.04.004

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years, extreme heat events have become increasingly frequent worldwide, leading to a significant rise in heatstroke-related mortality. However, the autopsy and histological examinations of heatstroke deaths exhibit nonspecific findings, such as ischemia, congestion, edema of internal organs, and neuronal necrosis. These factors pose substantial challenges to the forensic determination of such cases. With advancements in research, postmortem biochemical analysis, immunohistochemistry, and infrared spectroscopy have shown promise in identifying diagnostic markers for heatstroke deaths. This review discusses the current state of forensic determination of heatstroke deaths, and summarizes recent progress of diagnostic markers based on organ systems. The aim is to provide new insights and references for the forensic diagnosis of heatstroke-related deaths.

Key words: forensic pathology, biomarker, heatstroke-related death, cause of death determination

摘要： 近年来，世界范围内极端高温天气频发，中暑死亡人数明显增加。而中暑死尸体解剖和组织病理学检查缺乏具有典型诊断价值的征象，主要表现为内部脏器缺血或淤血水肿、神经细胞坏死等非特异性改变，因此中暑死的法医学鉴定难度较大。随着对中暑死研究的深入，利用死后生化检测、免疫组织化学、红外光谱等技术寻找中暑死鉴定标志物的研究不断取得进展。通过总结目前中暑死法医学鉴定研究现状，并按照器官系统对近年来中暑死诊断分子标志物研究进展进行综述，以期为中暑死的法医学鉴定提供参考。

关键词: 法医病理学, 生物标志物, 中暑死, 死因鉴定

CLC Number:

LIU Huine, PAN Meichen, SUN Tianying, MA Chuxiong, ZHU Weiwei, DONG Hongmei. Current Status and Advances of Molecular Biomarkers for Forensic Identification of Heatstroke Deaths[J]. Chinese Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2025(4): 40-54.

刘慧讷, 潘美辰, 孙天迎, 马楚雄, 朱玮玮, 董红梅. 中暑死法医学鉴定分子标志物研究现状及进展[J]. 中国司法鉴定, 2025(4): 40-54.

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