Katrin Brodbeck1, Stefanie Kern2, Sylvia Schick2, Arnd Steinbrück3, Michael Schwerer2, Birgit Bayer2, Katja Anslinger2, Steffen Peldschus2. 1. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Nußbaumstr 26, 80336, Munich, Germany. katrin.brodbeck@med.uni-muenchen.de. 2. Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Nußbaumstr 26, 80336, Munich, Germany. 3. Dept. of Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) elevations were remarked in the blood of trauma patients. Published increases refer to comparative values of a healthy control group, ignoring thereby inter- and intra-individual differences under normal conditions. The aim of this study was to quantify cfDNA in patients in the time course of a planned orthopedic surgery, which constitutes the advantage of obtaining individual pre- and post-trauma values for each patient. By this approach, a basis should be established for the potential future application of cfDNA as biomarker for the detection of mild injuries related to volunteer experiments in forensic biomechanics. METHODS: Plasma samples of ten patients obtaining knee or hip arthroplasty were analyzed quantitatively for cfDNA by real-time qPCR the day prior operation (Prior), immediately afterwards (Day0), and the day after the surgery (Day1). RESULTS: Prior values exhibited a broad range, indicating pronounced inter-individual differences in the basic level of cfDNA. After surgery, levels were significantly elevated on both days (Wilcoxon test p = 0.002). In nine patients, highest values were measured on Day0, whereby a fold change of 19 was remarked once. After Day0, values decreased, though they did not reach Prior values until Day1 in nine patients. CONCLUSION: Endoprosthesis surgery represents a well-defined trauma scenario for the measurement of individual cfDNA elevations. The analysis of pre- to post-trauma alterations lay the groundwork for the application of cfDNA as biomarker for the detection of minor injuries in the field of forensic biomechanics.
INTRODUCTION: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) elevations were remarked in the blood of traumapatients. Published increases refer to comparative values of a healthy control group, ignoring thereby inter- and intra-individual differences under normal conditions. The aim of this study was to quantify cfDNA in patients in the time course of a planned orthopedic surgery, which constitutes the advantage of obtaining individual pre- and post-trauma values for each patient. By this approach, a basis should be established for the potential future application of cfDNA as biomarker for the detection of mild injuries related to volunteer experiments in forensic biomechanics. METHODS: Plasma samples of ten patients obtaining knee or hip arthroplasty were analyzed quantitatively for cfDNA by real-time qPCR the day prior operation (Prior), immediately afterwards (Day0), and the day after the surgery (Day1). RESULTS: Prior values exhibited a broad range, indicating pronounced inter-individual differences in the basic level of cfDNA. After surgery, levels were significantly elevated on both days (Wilcoxon test p = 0.002). In nine patients, highest values were measured on Day0, whereby a fold change of 19 was remarked once. After Day0, values decreased, though they did not reach Prior values until Day1 in nine patients. CONCLUSION: Endoprosthesis surgery represents a well-defined trauma scenario for the measurement of individual cfDNA elevations. The analysis of pre- to post-trauma alterations lay the groundwork for the application of cfDNA as biomarker for the detection of minor injuries in the field of forensic biomechanics.
Authors: Thomas Lee; Erik S LeShane; Geralyn M Messerlian; Jacob A Canick; Antonio Farina; Walter W Heber; Diana W Bianchi Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2002-11 Impact factor: 8.661