Poisoning associated with potassium

A suicidal poisoning by intravenous administration of concentrated solution of potassium (K+) (chloride) is described in the study. A 30-year-old Caucasian female health professional was found dead in a motel. An intravenous needle was found inserted in the antecubital area in a right arm vein of the deceased. Attached to the needle, by a flexible tubing, was a 50 ml syringe four-fifths full of a clear liquid. Autopsy on the victim revealed pulmonary oedema and congestion. A routine toxicological analysis of biological samples ruled out the possibility of a drug overdose. However, the liquid from the syringe contained 1468 mmol of K+/l. Chloride ions were also present in high concentration in the liquid. The concentrations of K+ in the clear plasma and vitreous humour were 54 and 9.2 mmol/l respectively. It is suggested that the elevated level of K+ in the plasma or vitreous humour does not indicate necessarily a death due to the electrolyte. The evidence in this case is circumstantial and apparently can be expected to be so in any case where death is due to the intravenous infusion of a concentrated K+ solution.