Citation

Kłys M, Rojek S, Bolechała F. J. Chromatogr. B Analyt. Technol. Biomed. Life Sci. 2005; 825(1): 38-46.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jchromb.2005.02.004

PMID

16154521

Abstract

A typical use of hair analysis in forensic toxicology is the documentation of previous drug administration. This is illustrated in a suicidal death of a 58-year-old epileptic patient who was treated with oxcarbazepine and probably with levomepromazine. The toxicological analysis carried out by HPLC/APCI/MS included also the hair (6 cm length) besides postmortem blood. The method was validated for levomepromazine, oxcarbazepine (OXCBZ) and its two metabolites, 10-hydroxycarbazepine (CBZ-10OH) and trans-diol-carbazepine (CBZ-diOH) in various biological matrices. The analysis of the postmortem blood indicated oxcarbazepine and its two main metabolites were present at therapeutic concentrations; levomepromazine was detected at a fatal concentration. In three 2-cm segments of hair, oxcarbazepine and its two metabolites were detected; however, levomepromazine was not detected in this specimen. As a result of complex chemical-toxicological investigation it was confirmed the information that the decedent. was an epileptic patient and was treated with oxcarbazepine for at least 6 months before death. In addition, he took a toxic dose of levomepromazine in order to commit suicide. The analysis revealed differences between the concentration levels of oxcarbazepine and its active metabolite CBZ-10OH in postmortem specimens and hair, suggesting different mechanisms of penetration of metabolites and their precursors into this matrix.

Language: en

Keywords

Adult; Calibration; Carbamazepine; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Hair; Humans; Mass Spectrometry; Middle Aged; Oxcarbazepine; Postmortem Changes; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity