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Postmortem tissue distribution of MDPV following lethal intoxication by "bath salts".
- Source :
-
Journal of analytical toxicology [J Anal Toxicol] 2013 Apr; Vol. 37 (3), pp. 182-5. Date of Electronic Publication: 2013 Feb 13. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a psychoactive, synthetic analog of the central nervous system stimulant cathinone. Its recent popularity as a recreational drug in the United States has led to numerous reports to poison control centers across the country. As with other synthetic cathinones, the recreational use of MDPV has resulted in death. MDPV is thought to exert its pharmacologic effects by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine. This report describes the case of an exposure of a 39-year-old male to MDPV, which resulted in his death. Postmortem concentrations of MDPV in various tissues were measured. The detection of MDPV in tissues and fluids was accomplished using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis after solid-phase extraction. Blood analysis also demonstrated therapeutic levels of lamotrigine, fluoxetine, risperidone, benztropine, pseudoephedrine and ibuprofen. The detection of cathinones in hair was conducted using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction. MDPV was uniformly distributed among multiple tissues (blood, brain, muscle, cerebrospinal fluid and lung) at concentrations of approximately 0.4 to 0.6 µg/mL. Tissue and fluids responsible for detoxification/excretion had higher concentrations of MDPV (kidney, liver and bile > 0.8 µg/mL). A blood concentration ≥ 0.4 µg/mL was judged sufficient to cause death. The cause of death was ruled MDPV intoxication resulting in cardiac arrhythmia.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Alkaloids metabolism
Arrhythmias, Cardiac chemically induced
Autopsy
Benzodioxoles blood
Benzodioxoles cerebrospinal fluid
Brain metabolism
Cause of Death
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
Designer Drugs metabolism
Fatal Outcome
Forensic Toxicology methods
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Hair metabolism
Humans
Lung metabolism
Male
Muscle, Skeletal metabolism
Psychotropic Drugs blood
Psychotropic Drugs cerebrospinal fluid
Pyrrolidines blood
Pyrrolidines cerebrospinal fluid
Solid Phase Extraction
Substance Abuse Detection methods
Substance-Related Disorders complications
Substance-Related Disorders metabolism
Substance-Related Disorders pathology
Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Tissue Distribution
Synthetic Cathinone
Arrhythmias, Cardiac diagnosis
Baths
Benzodioxoles poisoning
Designer Drugs poisoning
Psychotropic Drugs poisoning
Pyrrolidines poisoning
Substance-Related Disorders diagnosis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1945-2403
- Volume :
- 37
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of analytical toxicology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23408250
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkt001