Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 21, Number 4, July/August 1997, pp. 314–318.
CASE REPORT:
HPLC–DAD and HPLC–MS Findings in a Fatality Involving
(Z)-cis-Clopenthixol (Zuclopenthixol)
A. Tracqui, P. Kintz, V.
Cirimele, F. Berthault, P. Mangin and B. Ludes
A fatality that was due to massive ingestion of the thioxanthene neuroleptic (Z)-cis-clopenthixol (zuclopenthixol, Z-CPT) is described. The toxicological screening and the quantitation of both the ingested drug and its inactive isomer (E)-trans-clopenthixol (E-CPT, produced by in vivo isomerization) in postmortem fluids and viscerae were performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)–diode array detection. Drug confirmation was carried out by HPLC–mass spectrometry with an ionspray interface. Although death occurred 40 h after the drug intake, postmortem blood concentrations were 391 and 275 ng/mL for Z-CPT and E-CPT, respectively (50 to 100 times the usual therapeutic values). The cause of death was suicide, and the manner was acute neuroleptic overdosage.
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