Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality globally, with alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) representing a significant but often under-diagnosed challenge in forensic practice.

Objective: To improve differential diagnostic criteria for sudden death caused by ACM and ischemic heart disease (IHD) using complex post-mortem analysis, including morphological, biochemical, and histological methods.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of forensic reports (2015–2020) and a prospective study of 196 cases were conducted. The subjects were divided into three groups: ACM (n=93), IHD (n=33), and a control group (n=35). Techniques included quantitative morphometry of the heart, blood ethanol chemical analysis, and biochemical screening.

Results: Significant differences were found in heart mass (IHD: 494.82 g vs. ACM: 392.78 g) and coronary artery stenosis (IHD: 66% vs. ACM: 15%). Histological findings showed uneven blood filling and dystrophic changes in 94-95% of ACM cases compared to 52-64% in IHD. Blood ethanol levels in ACM cases averaged 2.75‰.

Conclusion: The integration of biochemical markers and precise morphometric data provides a diagnostic reliability of over 90% in distinguishing ACM from other cardiac pathologies.

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy, sudden death, forensic medical examination, ischemic heart disease, post-mortem diagnostics.

Yadgarova Sh.Sh., et al. Forensic criteria for the diagnosis of chronic alcohol intoxication // Chinese Journal of Ind. H. – 2021. – Vol. 39, №13. – P. 429-434. (Scopus).

Yadgarova Sh.Sh. [Title of the article in the journal "New Day in Medicine", Bukhara, 2020].

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