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Analytical data supporting the "theoretical" postmortem redistribution factor (F ): a new model to evaluate
1Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of the Medical Examiner, San Diego, CA, USA.
Forensic Sciences Research
|November 29, 2018
Summary
This study introduces postmortem redistribution (PMR) factors to link drug concentrations in peripheral blood after death to levels before death. It ranks common drugs by their potential for and extent of PMR using liver/blood ratios.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Pharmacokinetics
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Postmortem redistribution (PMR) describes the movement of drugs within the body after death, altering peripheral blood concentrations.
- Accurate interpretation of postmortem drug levels requires understanding their redistribution characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing models for quantifying postmortem redistribution (PMR) using the PMR factor (F) and theoretical PMR factor (F*).
- To assess the relationship between antemortem whole-blood and postmortem peripheral blood drug concentrations.
- To rank commonly detected drugs based on their propensity for and degree of PMR.
Main Methods:
- Application of recent data on liver/peripheral blood (L/P) ratios for numerous drugs.
- Assessment of established PMR models (F and F*) using these L/P ratio data.
Main Results:
- The study provides an assessment of the applicability of PMR models based on drug-specific L/P ratios.
- A ranking of drugs is presented, indicating their likelihood and extent of postmortem redistribution.
Conclusions:
- The L/P ratio is a valuable parameter for predicting and understanding drug behavior in postmortem redistribution.
- This work aids in the toxicological interpretation of drug concentrations in postmortem investigations.