A simple method for postmortem detection of acute myocardial infarction.

The analysis of K/Na ion ratio of myocardium was used for the postmortal determination of the early myocardial infarction. The ion content of heart tissue was measured with flame spectrometer after the decomposition of myocardium by Lumatom tissue solubizer. The ion contents and their ratios correlate well with the electrocardiogram, the clinical data, the autopsy and histological findings. In some cases the change of the K/Na ion ratio was the only alteration that suggested an early stage of myocardial infarction. The Lumatom tissue solubizer can be very useful in determination of trace elements from any organic samples.