Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

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
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Specimen Adulteration and Substitution in Workplace Drug Testing.

Forensic science review·2015
Same author

Evaluation of an onsite alcohol testing device for use in postmortem forensic toxicology.

Journal of analytical toxicology·2001
Same author

Detection of drugs of abuse in nails.

Journal of analytical toxicology·1998
Same author

Unusual death attributed to the combined effects of chloral hydrate, lidocaine, and nitrous oxide.

Journal of analytical toxicology·1998
Same author

6-acetylmorphine detection in postmortem cerebrospinal fluid.

Journal of analytical toxicology·1998
Same author

The role of iminium-enamine species in the toxication and detoxication of cyclic tertiary amines.

NIDA research monograph·1997

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.

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).

Related Experiment Videos

  • 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.