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Site-dependent postmortem changes in blood cocaine concentrations.

W L Hearn1, E E Keran, H A Wei

  • 1Dade County Medical Examiner Department, Miami, FL.

Journal of Forensic Sciences
|May 1, 1991
PubMed
Summary
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Postmortem cocaine levels in blood change significantly after death. Cocaine concentration typically decreases in the subclavian vein but increases in the heart, aorta, and femoral vein.

Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Postmortem Analysis
  • Pharmacokinetics

Background:

  • Forensic toxicologists often assume stable postmortem blood drug concentrations.
  • In vitro studies show cocaine rapidly degrades in unpreserved blood, especially at higher temperatures.
  • Some drugs exhibit postmortem redistribution from tissues into the blood.

Observation:

  • This study investigated postmortem changes in blood cocaine concentrations.
  • Blood samples were collected shortly after death and again at autopsy.
  • Cases were selected when scene investigation suggested cocaine use.

Findings:

  • Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed significant differences in cocaine concentrations between paired samples.
  • Changes in cocaine levels were site-dependent.

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  • Subclavian vein cocaine concentrations usually decreased, while concentrations in the heart, aorta, and femoral vein typically increased.

    • Implications:

    • Postmortem blood cocaine concentrations are not static and vary by sampling site.
    • Estimating perimortem cocaine levels from postmortem blood samples is unreliable.
    • These findings highlight the challenges in interpreting postmortem toxicology data for cocaine use.