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Determination of olanzapine in a postmortem case
A J Jenkins1, K M Sarconi, H N Raaf
1Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
Journal of Analytical Toxicology
|December 10, 1998
Summary
This study determined olanzapine concentrations in autopsy specimens from a psychiatric patient. The findings confirmed the presence of olanzapine, but the cause of death was natural, attributed to cardiovascular disease.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic approved for schizophrenia treatment.
- It shares structural similarities with clozapine and has a low incidence of extrapyramidal side effects.
- This case involves the toxicological analysis of olanzapine in post-mortem biological samples.
Observation:
- The deceased, a 35-year-old male, was prescribed olanzapine prior to death.
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of olanzapine.
- Detected concentrations: heart blood (550 ng/mL), bile (6346 ng/mL), gastric contents (157 ng/mL).
- Vitreous humor, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine were negative for olanzapine.
Findings:
- Olanzapine was detected in multiple post-mortem specimens.
- Concentrations found were significantly higher than typical therapeutic plasma levels.
- Despite detected levels, these were not considered the primary cause of death.
Implications:
- Establishes post-mortem reference ranges for olanzapine in various biological matrices.
- Highlights the importance of comprehensive toxicological analysis in post-mortem investigations.
- Contributes to understanding olanzapine pharmacokinetics in deceased individuals.