Citation

Fanton L, Gagneux MC, Miras A, Tilhet-Coartet S, Achache P, Vallon JJ, Malicier D. J. Med. Leg. Droit Med. 1997; 40(4): 243-247.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Masson)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We reported a case of fatal suicidal intoxication with chloroquine, associated with bromazepam and metoclopramide. At the autopsy samples were taken of body fluids (stomach contents, heart blood, urine, bile) and of organs (cerebral hemispheres, cerebellum, heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, spleen). After a double extraction using organic solvent, titration was carried out by HPLC with a diode UV detector. The toxicological blood tests showed that the victim had died of poisoning with several drugs, chloroquine (41.8 mg/l), metoclopramide (1.8 mg/l) and bromazepam (2 mg/l). Depending on the tissue, the ratios between the maximum and minimum concentrations were 60 for chloroquine, 6 for metoclopramide and 4 for bromazepam. These figures confirmed the significant tissue distribution of chloroquine, concentrations of which were decreasing in the following organs : pancreas, liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, cerebellum and brain. The high hepatic concentration of desethylchloroquine witnessed to the metabolic activity of the liver. The differences of distribution observed in the organs and between the three molecules were discussed.

Language: fr

Keywords

Autopsy; Bromazepam; Chloroquine; Intoxication; Metoclopramide; Mono-desethyl- chloroquine; Post- mortem redistribution