Autopsy is performed on a 2-year-old child allegedly neglected to death. The body is shrunken and sunken-eyed. Vitreous humor biochemistry shows sodium of 162 mEq/L and urea nitrogen markedly raised for age. These values most strongly support which antemortem condition?

• A Chronic protein energy malnutrition alone
• B Severe dehydration preceding death ✓
• C Postmortem decomposition artifact
• D Acute salt poisoning

Explanation

Elevated vitreous sodium and urea nitrogen are reliable antemortem markers of dehydration because the vitreous is relatively resistant to early putrefactive change. In a neglected child denied adequate fluids, these values confirm fatal dehydration superimposed on malnutrition. Decomposition raises vitreous potassium, not sodium and urea in this pattern, and acute salt poisoning would require a history and far higher sodium levels with corroborative scene findings.

Reference: Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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