Fibronectin expression as a marker of hypoxia in asphyxial deaths: A pilot study
FN upregulation in the myocardium is a consistent hallmark of asphyxial deaths, reflecting extracellular matrix changes under hypoxia. FN identifies hypoxic stress rather than mechanism-specific asphyxia; nonetheless, it can be a valuable aid in forensic diagnosis, especially when morphology alone is inconclusive. Integration of FN IHC with conventional autopsy and histology could enhance diagnostic accuracy and support medicolegal assessments of asphyxial death.
Authors
- Rosario Puertas Barranco
- Valeria Cancila (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9502-1191)
- Tommaso D’Anna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5162-7151)
- Simona Merighi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-6049-4225)
- Ginevra Malta
- Stefania Zerbo
- Giuseppe Di Pietrantonio
- Antonina Argo
- Francesco Ventura
- Beatrice Belmonte
- Isabella Caristo
Institutions
- University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT)
- Department of Health (ES)
- Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (IT)
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico "Paolo Giaccone" di Palermo (IT)
- University of Genoa (IT)
- University of Palermo (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Legal Medicine
- Published
- 2026-02-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102820
- Primary Topic
- Restraint-Related Deaths
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00