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Fatal intoxication with naftidrofuryl.
Michael F Koller1, Martin Schmid, Peter X Iten
1Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland. miko1@gmx.ch
Legal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|June 13, 2009
Summary
This case report details a fatal naftidrofuryl poisoning, the first documented instance. A high blood concentration of this vasodilator was identified as the cause of death in a man with existing health issues.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Forensic Pathology
Background:
- A 52-year-old male with a history of alcoholism, epilepsy, and dizziness presented with psychosocial stressors.
- The patient was undergoing treatment with disulfiram for alcohol abstinence, valproic acid for seizures, and naftidrofuryl for dizziness.
Observation:
- The deceased was found in bed with no apparent morphologic cause of death upon autopsy.
- Blood analysis revealed therapeutic levels of disulfiram and valproic acid, with no detectable ethanol.
- A significantly elevated blood concentration of naftidrofuryl (7500 microg/L) was detected.
Findings:
- The high concentration of naftidrofuryl was determined to be the cause of death.
- The manner of death was deemed most likely suicide.
- This represents the first reported case of fatal naftidrofuryl poisoning in the literature.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential toxicity of naftidrofuryl at high concentrations.
- Underscores the importance of therapeutic drug monitoring, especially in patients with complex medical histories.
- Contributes to the understanding of drug-induced fatalities in forensic toxicology.
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