TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Blood cocaine and metabolite pharmacokinetics after cardiac arrest in a body-packer case
JO  - Human and experimental toxicology
A1  - de Prost, Nicolas
A1  - Megarbane, Bruno
A1  - Questel, Frank
A1  - Bloch, Vanessa
A1  - Cantin Bertaux, Delphine
A1  - Pourriat, Jean Louis
A1  - Rabbat, Antoine
SP  - 49
EP  - 53
VL  - 29
IS  - 1
N2  - Introduction: Cocaine body packing, the internal concealment of cocaine for transportation between countries, may expose to life-threatening intoxications. No data is currently available on the pharmacokinetics of cocaine and its metabolites when a packet rupture occurs in a body packer. Case report: We report the first pharmacokinetic data associated with a severe cocaine intoxication in a body packer, resulting in cardiac arrest. Massive concentrations of cocaine (observed maximal concentration: 1.66 mg/L, 1 hour after the cardiac arrest) were measured in plasma up to about 15 hours, suggesting a prolonged absorption due to a slow-release in the gastrointestinal tract despite surgical extraction of the packets. Apparent cocaine elimination half-life was 7.6 hours. Conclusion: A prolonged apparent cocaine elimination half-life has been observed. Further pharmacokinetic studies are needed to understand better the pathophysiology of acute cocaine intoxication in body packers.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0960-3271
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0960327109354940
ID  - ref1
ER  -