Postmortem Plasma Luteinizing Hormone Levels and Antemortem Violence

Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were determined in postmortem blook samples obtained from 28 men who sustained sudden traumatic deaths. Violent antemortem behaviour (suicide by hanging or gunshot, or killed during physical struggle) was associated with significantly higher LH levels than nonviolent antemortem behaviour (traffic accidents, crime victims). These findings indicate that postmortem LH levels in males may be a biological indicator of violent behaviour immediately preceding death.