Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN 0146-4760, Volume 25, Number 4, May/June 2001, pp. 270-274

Here is where the title stuff goes

¹H NMR Spectroscopic Investigation of Serum and Urine in a Case of Acute Tetrahydrofuran Poisoning
Bernard Cartigny1, Nathalie Azaroual2, Michel Imbenotte3, Nouredine Sadeg4, Francine Testart5, Jack Richecoeur5, Gaston Vermeersch2, and Michel Lhermitte1,3,*
1 Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Albert Calmette, 59045 Lille, France;
2 Laboratoire de Physique, UPRESA CNRS 8009, Laboratoire d’Application RMN de l’Université de Lille 2, BP 83, 59006 Lille, France;
3 Laboratoire de Toxicologie, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, BP 83, 59006 Lille, France; and
4 Laboratoire Claude Bernard and 5Service de Réanimation Polyvalente, Centre Hospitalier René Dubos, 95301 Pontoise, France

This article reports the investigation by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy of biological fluids in a case of intentional poisoning with tetrahydrofuran (THF). Occupational exposures to this solvent are well documented, but acute poisoning cases are extremely rare, and the one presented here is the second known case of this kind. Urine and serum samples were collected. Without any pretreatment, the presence of THF was confirmed by characteristic resonances at 1.90 and 3.76 ppm; high lactate levels were also observed. The presence of g-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) was noted. Quantitative analysis was performed by relative integration of peak areas. THF concentrations were 813 and 850 mg/L (11.3 and 11.8 mmol/L), and GHB concentrations 239 and 2977 mg/L (2.3 and 28.6 mmol/L) in serum and urine, respectively. A gas chromatographic– mass spectrometric method confirmed 1H NMR observations. The origin of GHB detected in serum and urine is also discussed.

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