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A death attributed solely to diltiazem
H A Kaliciak1, S N Huckin, W S Cave
1Provincial Toxicology Centre, Riverview Hospital, Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|March 1, 1992
Summary
A grieving elderly woman died from a diltiazem overdose. This antihypertensive medication, prescribed for her heart condition, was found in lethal concentrations in her system, confirming fatal overdose.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Cardiovascular Pharmacology
Background:
- A case study involving an elderly female experiencing significant emotional distress following her husband's death.
- The deceased was a known patient with a heart ailment, for which she was prescribed medication.
Observation:
- The individual was discovered deceased, with initial assessments suggesting suicide.
- Toxicological screening revealed the presence of diltiazem, a medication used for hypertension and angina.
- Post-mortem analysis quantified diltiazem levels in blood, urine, vitreous humor, and liver tissue.
Findings:
- Blood diltiazem concentration was 6.7 mg/L.
- Urine diltiazem concentration was 5.4 mg/L.
- Vitreous diltiazem concentration was 5.5 mg/L.
- Liver diltiazem concentration was 79 mg/kg.
Implications:
- The findings indicate that diltiazem overdose was the cause of death.
- This case highlights the potential for therapeutic drug overdose, even with prescribed medications.
- Understanding toxicological thresholds for diltiazem is crucial in forensic investigations.