[The status of the ethanol-oxidizing enzyme systems in fatal alcohol poisonings].

The alcohol dehydrogenase, microsomal ethanol-oxidizing, and catalase-peroxidase enzymatic systems of the liver, myocardium, and kidneys were studied in 357 experiments by simulating acute and chronic alcohol poisoning and in 45 forensic medical expert evaluations of acute alcohol poisoning, 17 lethal cases of coronary disease, and 9 lethal cases of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy. Graphic models representing the activities of ethanol-oxidizing enzymatic systems have been developed. The results appreciably extend the diagnostic potentialities and, together with analysis of pathomorphological and forensic chemical findings, help disclose the numerous variants of thanatogenesis in alcoholic intoxication, alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy, and coronary disease, which are individual and depend on the genetically determined activity of the enzymatic systems, presence and severity of concomitant diseases, duration and regularity of alcohol consumption, and other causes.