Postmortem distribution of sildenafil in histological material

Area of Science:

• Forensic Toxicology
• Pharmacology
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Sildenafil is a widely used medication.
• Understanding its detection in biological samples is crucial for forensic investigations.
• Stability in fixed tissues impacts toxicological analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detect and quantify sildenafil in biological fluids and tissues.
• To assess the stability of sildenafil in formalin-fixed specimens.
• To evaluate sildenafil levels in a fatal case.

Main Methods:

• Toxicological analysis of biological samples (blood, urine, tissues).
• Quantification of sildenafil using analytical techniques.
• Analysis of sildenafil in formalin solutions and fixed tissues after four weeks of preservation.

Main Results:

• Sildenafil was detected in various body fluids and tissues at autopsy.
• Significant concentrations of sildenafil were also found in formalin-fixed tissues and preservation solutions.
• Sildenafil demonstrated good stability in chemically fixed biological specimens.

Conclusions:

• Sildenafil can be reliably detected and quantified in biological samples, even after formalin fixation.
• The stability of sildenafil in fixed tissues is confirmed, aiding post-mortem toxicological assessments.
• This research provides valuable data for forensic science and toxicology.