| |
Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 25,
Number 8, November/December, pp. 705-710
TECHNICAL NOTE: Fatal 4-MTA Intoxication: Development of
a Liquid Chromatographic–Tandem Mass Spectrometric Assay for Multiple Matrices
T. Decaestecker[1], E. De Letter[2], K. Clauwaert1,
M.P. Bouche[1], W. Lambert[3], J. Van Bocxlaer[1], M. Piette[2],
E. Van den Eeckhout[4], C. Van Peteghem[3], and A. De Leenheer[3]
[1]Laboratoria voor Medische Biochemie en voor Klinische Analyse, Universiteit
Gent, Harelbekestraat 72, B-9000 Gent, Belgium;
[2]Laboratorium voor Gerechtelijke Geneeskunde, Universiteit Gent, J. Kluyskensstraat
29, B-9000 Gent, Belgium;
[3]Laboratorium voor Toxicologie, Universiteit Gent, Harelbekestraat 72, B-9000
Gent, Belgium; and
[4]Laboratorium voor Farmaceutische Biotechnologie, Universiteit Gent, Harelbekestraat
72, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
The case history and toxicological findings of an overdose fatality
involving 4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA) and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA) are reported along with a description of the analytical method. Detection
and quantitation of 4-MTA and MDMA were performed by liquid chromatography–tandem
mass spectrometry using phentermine as internal standard. Application of this
technique to a variety of matrices allowed an insight in the distribution of
4-MTA. Several blood samples including femoral vein blood (5.23 mg/L), urine
(95.5 mg/L), vitreous humor (1.31 mg/L), bile (36.4 mg/L), and numerous tissue
samples such as liver (30.8 mg/kg), spleen (4.10 mg/kg), and frontal lobe (31.7
mg/kg) were assayed. These values indicated that 4-MTA could be identified as
the cause of this fatality, whereas the concentrations of MDMA, also described,
are less important because the concentrations found are lower. This case reports,
for the first time, an extensive toxicological analysis of 4-MTA, by which the
data presented may shed some light on the distribution of 4-MTA.
Reproduction
of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s
permission.
This
article is available in its entirety by fax for $40.00 each.
Visa, MasterCard and AMEX accepted.
To
order electronically click here
or call: 847-647-2900 ext. 1323
or fax request to: 847-647-1155.
To order multiple copies click here.
Please indicate JAT
volume and issue along with page numbers. |
|
Home | Subscribe
| Current Issue | Back Issues
| Search | Advertise | Other Publications
| |
