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Related Experiment Videos

Diltiazem and pentoxifylline determination in postmortem specimens

D A Engelhart1, E S Lavins, S S Seligman

  • 1Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.

Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|December 17, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Postmortem analysis revealed lethal levels of diltiazem and pentoxifylline in a deceased 78-year-old woman. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry confirmed drug presence in blood, urine, bile, and gastric contents.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Postmortem Investigations

Background:

  • Determining the cause of death in suspicious cases requires comprehensive toxicological analysis.
  • Identifying and quantifying xenobiotics in postmortem specimens is crucial for forensic investigations.

Observation:

  • A 78-year-old female was discovered deceased in her residence.
  • Postmortem specimens including blood, urine, bile, and gastric contents were collected for toxicological examination.

Findings:

  • Qualitative screening detected diltiazem and pentoxifylline.
  • Quantitative analysis by gas chromatography-nitrogen-phosphorus detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed significant concentrations: blood (0.59 mg/dL diltiazem, 0.63 mg/dL pentoxifylline), urine (1.17 mg/dL diltiazem, 0.08 mg/dL pentoxifylline), bile (0.40 mg/dL diltiazem, 0.22 mg/dL pentoxifylline), and gastric contents (0.28 mg/dL diltiazem, 0.02 mg/dL pentoxifylline).

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  • Formalin-fixed tissues also tested positive for both drugs.

    • Implications:

    • The presence and concentrations of diltiazem and pentoxifylline suggest a potential role in the cause of death.
    • This case highlights the importance of advanced analytical techniques in forensic toxicology for accurate drug identification and quantification in postmortem samples.