Immunohistochemical insights into hypothermia-related deaths: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: Hypothermia occurs when core body temperature drops below 35 °C. The purpose of this review was to identify and analyze studies on the topic of hypothermia from an immunohistochemical perspective to determine robust markers of fatal hypothermia. Methods: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. It has been registered with Prospero (registration number: CRD42024572782). Results: In total, 2618 publications met the search criteria. A total of 63 duplicate articles were excluded and a further 2489 publications were excluded for not meeting the inclusion criteria, leaving 29 full-text articles. Furthermore, from the bibliographies of the included articles, four more publications were selected, which also respected the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only six studies identified a statistically significant correlation between immunohistochemical patterns and hypothermia-related deaths. Conclusion: The existing literature examined appears fragmented and lacks robust statistical validation. Therefore, there is an evident need for more comprehensive and methodologically rigorous research to develop reliable diagnostic criteria.