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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 31, Number 8, October,
pp.522-525
CASE REPORT: Loss of Ethanol from Vitreous
Humor in Drowning Deaths
Peter P. Singer[1], Graham R. Jones[1], Russell Lewis[2],
and Robert Johnson[2]
[1]Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 7007 - 116 Street, Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada T6H 5R8 and
[2]Toxicology and Accident Research
Laboratory, FAA, Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, 6500 S. Macarthur
Boulevard, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73169
Two separate cases of drowning with extended periods
underwater (2 and 4 weeks) are reported. The postmortem ethanol
concentrations were 260 and 280 in central blood, 50 and 80 in
vitreous, and 330 and 320 in urine (mg/100 mL) for cases 1 and
2, respectively. Determination of the urine 5-hydroxytryptophol/5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic
acid ratios produced results of 713 and 41 pmol/nmol, respectively.
The serotonin metabolite ratios support the explanation of diffusion
of ethanol from the vitreous fluid into the surrounding water,
rather than postmortem production of ethanol in blood, as the
primary reason for the blood-vitreous ethanol differences.
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