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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 27, Number 8, November/December,
pp. 552-559
Concentrations and Ratios of Amphetamine, Methamphetamine,
MDA, MDMA, and MDEA Enantiomers Determined in Plasma Samples from Clinical
Toxicology and Driving Under the Influence of Drugs Cases by GC–NICI-MS
F.T. Peters[1], N. Samyn[2], M. Wahl[3], T. Kraemer[1],
G.
De Boeck[2], and H.H.
Maurer[1]
[1]Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental
and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Saarland, D-66421 Homburg
(Saar), Germany;
[2]National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology, B-1120
Brussels, Belgium; and
[3]Department of Internal Medicine, Knappschaftskrankenhaus,
D-66346 Puettlingen, Germany
Enantiomers of amphetamine (AM), methamphetamine (MA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
(MDA), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine
(MDEA) exhibit different pharmacological properties. This may be important
for the interpretation of analytical results. Plasma samples were analyzed
using validated negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography–mass
spectrometry procedures. The results for clinical toxicology cases, divided
into screening (SCR) and intoxication (ITX) cases, and those of driving under
the influence of drugs (DUID) cases were compared. The concentrations of all
enantiomers, except R-(–)-MDA and R-(–)- and S-(+)-MA, in the SCR
samples were lower than in ITX and DUID samples. Differences between concentrations
in ITX and DUID samples were only significant for both enantiomers of AM (DUID
higher). These findings suggested impairment in drugged drivers. Different
enantiomer ratios (R vs. S) were found for AM between DUID and SCR samples,
for MDMA between ITX and SCR samples, and for MDA between DUID and ITX and
DUID and SCR samples. Higher MDMA enantiomer ratios in SCR compared to ITX
samples are in accordance with a previously described increase of those ratios
over time, possibly allowing differentiation of recent from nonrecent ingestion.
Pharmacokinetic analysis of a MDMA poisoning yielded elimination half-lives
of 6.0 h for R-(–)-MDMA and 4.1 h for S-(+)-MDMA. The enantiomer ratios
rose exponentially over time. Reproduction
of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s
permission.
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