Metabolomic Profiling in Sudden Cardiac Death: Identification of Potential Biomarkers for ischaemic heart disease without myocardial changes and death due to substance abuse.

This study explored the potential of metabolomics to differentiate between sudden cardiac death caused by coronary artery disease (CAD) and death from toxic causes. By analyzing the unique chemical signatures in heart tissue, the researchers sought to identify lipid biomarkers that could improve the diagnosis of CAD-related deaths, particularly in ambiguous cases where traditional autopsy findings are inconclusive. The results revealed distinct metabolic profiles between the two groups, with specific lipids like SM 40:2;2O_A and PC 16:0_18:1_B being significantly more abundant in individuals who died from CAD. Conversely, lipids such as PI 38:4 and HexCer 18:1;2O/24:0 were more prevalent in the toxic death group. These findings suggest that metabolomics holds promise for enhancing diagnostic accuracy in sudden cardiac death cases. Further investigation of these identified biomarkers could lead to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying sudden cardiac death and potentially pave the way for improved prevention and treatment strategies.