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Abstract: As a rule, the concentration curves of substances in various body volumes, in particular in plasma and blood volume, can be reproduced by a number of exponentional functions. A compartment system can be isomorphically assigned to such a representation in which a mass exchange takes place between the constituent volumes. In forensic medicine (toxicology), the “central compartment model” is used in which an exchange of substances between the blood space (central compartment) and the peripheral spaces (peripheral compartments) takes place. Characteristic parameters of the compartment models are their volumes and the intercompartmental mass flows or their rate constants. They can be determined from the mathematical representations of the concentration curves. It is possible to obtain knowledge on the properties (e.g. permeability) of the convectional/diffusional transcapillary transport on the basis of these parameters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Since the early eighties, the folic antagonist methotrexate (MTX) has been used in long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Because of the high toxic potential clinical and laboratory controls at regular intervals and patient education in order to avoid misadventure is of overriding importance. We present four cases of fatal MTX intoxication due to medical malpractice from the Tübingen Institute of Forensic Medicine autopsy material, which show the severe consequences of MTX overdose. It becomes evident that among non-rheumatologists there still is need for information about toxicity and dose limitation in MTX low-dose treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]