Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN 0146-4760, Volume 31, Number 2, March 2007, pp.109-113

CASE REPORT: Recent Paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) Deaths in Taiwan
Dong-Liang Lin[1,2,3], Hsiu-Chuan Liu[1], and Hsin-Ling Yin[1,3]
[1]Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Taipei, Taiwan;
[2]Department of Medical Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; and
[3]Department of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) and paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) are methoxylated phenylethylamine derivatives that have been banned in Taiwan since December 2005. The case history and pathological and toxicological findings of eight recent PMMA fatalities were investigated. All specimens from these cases were initially identified by an AxSYM fluorescence polarization immunoassay screening test for amphetamines with a 300 ng/mL cutoff. Specimens screened positive were confirmed and quantitated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The mean age of these PMMA-related fatalities was 18.9 ± 4.4 years in the range of 14–25. Seven (87.5%) of these eight cases were men. The mean, standard deviation, and range of PMA found in the heart blood collected from these 8 cases were 0.213, 0.144, and 0.079–0.489 µg/mL, respectively. The corresponding data for PMMA were 4.312, 4.806, and 1.208–15.824 µg/mL, respectively. Other drugs, such as MDA, MDMA, ketamine, norketamine, hydroxymidazolam, methamphetamine, and pentobarbital, were also found in these cases.

Reproduction of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s permission.

| Home | Subscribe | Current Issue | Back Issues | Search | Advertise | Other Publications |