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Hansen SL, Nielsen MKK, Linnet K, Rasmussen BS. Suitability of cardiac blood, brain tissue, and muscle tissue as alternative matrices for toxicological evaluation in postmortem cases. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:529-538. [PMID: 36611280 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Drug concentrations in peripheral blood are often used to evaluate whether death was caused by drug intoxication. In some cases, peripheral blood is not available, and analytical results of alternative matrices should instead be used in the toxicological evaluation. However, reference concentrations of alternative matrices are few, which makes interpretation of results a challenge. In this study, concentrations of selected benzodiazepines, opioids, illicit drugs, and other commonly used drugs in postmortem femoral blood, cardiac blood, brain tissue, and muscle tissue are presented. Alternative matrix-to-femoral blood drug concentration ratios and correlations of blood and alternative matrix drug concentrations were calculated to examine which of the investigated alternative matrices were most suited to use for toxicological evaluation in cases where peripheral blood is not available. The results showed that concentrations in cardiac blood, brain tissue, and muscle tissue could be useful in the postmortem evaluation of most of the 19 selected analytes. In most cases, analytes were detected in all the alternative matrices. The median concentration ratios for the selected analytes in brain tissue, cardiac blood, and muscle tissue relative to femoral blood ranged from 0.57 to 3.42, 0.59 to 1.87, and 0.67 to 7.04, respectively. Overall, cardiac blood provided the concentrations most comparable with femoral blood concentrations, indicating that cardiac blood can be useful in cases where femoral blood is not available. However, the measured concentrations should be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Lund Hansen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marie Katrine Klose Nielsen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristian Linnet
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brian Schou Rasmussen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Hansen SL, Dalsgaard PW, Linnet K, Rasmussen BS. Comparison of Comprehensive Screening Results in Postmortem Blood and Brain Tissue by UHPLC-QTOF-MS. J Anal Toxicol 2022; 46:1053-1058. [PMID: 35157763 PMCID: PMC9872219 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative specimens collected during autopsies can be valuable in postmortem toxicology in cases where peripheral blood is not available. The applicability of brain tissue as an alternative matrix for drug screening by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was investigated in this study. Results of the 50 most frequently detected drugs and metabolites of toxicological interest in blood and brain tissue samples from 1,719 autopsy cases were compared. Examination of the results in paired blood and brain tissue samples revealed that the two matrices were in general comparable, as the majority of the 50 analytes were observed in a high number of the examined cases in both blood and brain tissue. This demonstrates the potential of brain tissue as an alternative matrix for drug screening in postmortem toxicology or as a secondary matrix for confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petur Weihe Dalsgaard
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Chemistry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V’s Vej 11, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kristian Linnet
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Chemistry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V’s Vej 11, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Brian Schou Rasmussen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Chemistry, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V’s Vej 11, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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Wille SMR, Elliott S. The Future of Analytical and Interpretative Toxicology: Where are We Going and How Do We Get There? J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45:619-632. [PMID: 33245325 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
(Forensic) toxicology has faced many challenges, both analytically and interpretatively, especially in relation to an increase in potential drugs of interest. Analytical toxicology and its application to medicine and forensic science have progressed rapidly within the past centuries. Technological innovations have enabled detection of more substances with increasing sensitivity in a variety of matrices. Our understanding of the effects (both intended and unintended) have also increased along with determination and degree of toxicity. However, it is clear there is even more to understand and consider. The analytical focus has been on typical matrices such as blood and urine but other matrices could further increase our understanding, especially in postmortem (PM) situations. Within this context, the role of PM changes and potential redistribution of drugs requires further research and identification of markers of its occurrence and extent. Whilst instrumentation has improved, in the future, nanotechnology may play a role in selective and sensitive analysis as well as bioassays. Toxicologists often only have an advisory impact on pre-analytical and pre-interpretative considerations. The collection of appropriate samples at the right time in an appropriate way as well as obtaining sufficient circumstance background is paramount in ensuring an effective analytical strategy to provide useful results that can be interpreted within context. Nevertheless, key interpretative considerations such as pharmacogenomics and drug-drug interactions as well as determination of tolerance remain and in the future, analytical confirmation of an individual's metabolic profile may support a personalized medicine and judicial approach. This should be supported by the compilation and appropriate application of drug data pursuant to the situation. Specifically, in PM circumstances, data pertaining to where a drug was not/may have been/was contributory will be beneficial with associated pathological considerations. This article describes the challenges faced within toxicology and discusses progress to a future where they are being addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M R Wille
- Department of Toxicology, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Simon Elliott
- Elliott Forensic Consulting Ltd, Birmingham, UK.,Department Analytical, Environmental & Forensic Science, King's College London, London, UK
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Mikkelsen CR, Jornil JR, Andersen LV, Banner J, Hasselstrøm JB. Distribution of Eight QT-Prolonging Drugs and Their Main Metabolites Between Postmortem Cardiac Tissue and Blood Reveals Potential Pitfalls in Toxicological Interpretation. J Anal Toxicol 2019; 42:375-383. [PMID: 29579279 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bky018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Femoral blood concentrations are usually used in postmortem toxicology to assess possible toxic effects of drugs. This includes QT-prolongation and other cardiac dysrhythmia, which could have been the cause of death. However, blood concentration is only a surrogate for the active site concentration, and therefore cardiac tissue concentration may provide a more accurate toxicological interpretation. Thus, cardiac tissue and femoral and cardiac blood concentrations were examined for eight frequently used QT-prolonging drugs (QTD) and their metabolites in a mentally ill population. In total, 180 cases were included from the Danish autopsy-based forensic study SURVIVE. The concentrations were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry utilizing stable isotopically labeled internal standards. The results showed that the cardiac tissue concentrations were significantly higher compared to femoral and cardiac blood concentrations, with two exceptions. The median cardiac tissue-to-femoral blood concentration ratio (Kb) ranged from 2.2 (venlafaxine) to 15 (nortriptyline). The inter-individual fold difference between the minimum and maximum Kb ranged from 2.6-fold (Z-hydroxynortriptyline) to 61 (venlafaxine). For 12 compounds, postmortem redistribution appeared to be minimal, whereas four compounds displayed some degree of postmortem redistribution. Citalopram and quetiapine were selected for in-depth analysis of the relation between the toxicological interpretation and femoral blood/cardiac tissue concentrations. Within this dataset, citalopram displayed a wide overlap in cardiac tissue concentrations (~50%) between non-toxic and toxic citalopram cases, as estimated from femoral blood concentrations. In contrast, quetiapine displayed no overlap in cardiac tissue concentrations between non-toxic and toxic quetiapine cases based on femoral blood concentrations. The implication of the citalopram finding is that possible intoxications can be overlooked when only considering femoral blood concentrations. Based on the present findings, non-toxic cardiac tissue 10th-90th percentile concentration ranges were estimated for citalopram (0.93-4.4 mg/kg) and quetiapine (0.0073-0.60 mg/kg).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Mikkelsen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jakob R Jornil
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ljubica V Andersen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Wilhelm Meyers Allé 4, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jytte Banner
- Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V's Vej 11, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen B Hasselstrøm
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Aarhus, Denmark
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Nedahl M, Johansen SS, Linnet K. Reference Brain/Blood Concentrations of Citalopram, Duloxetine, Mirtazapine and Sertraline. J Anal Toxicol 2018; 42:149-156. [PMID: 29244076 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkx098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Postmortem blood samples may not accurately reflect antemortem drug concentrations, as the levels of some drugs increase due to postmortem redistribution (PMR). The brain has been suggested as an alternative sampling site. The anatomically secluded site of the brain limits redistribution and prolongs the detection window, thereby enabling sampling from deceased individuals where blood is no longer suitable for analysis. We report concentrations in brain tissue and blood from 91 cases for the four antidepressants citalopram, duloxetine, mirtazapine and sertraline. The cases were classified according to their role in the cause of death, as follows: (A) concentrations where the drug was the sole cause of fatal intoxication; (B) concentrations where the drug contributed to a fatal outcome; and (C) concentrations where the drug was not related to the cause of death. The analytical method was successfully validated in brain tissue in terms of linearity, process efficiency, precision and accuracy. Quantification of analytes was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Correlations between blood and brain concentrations were achieved with R2-values between 0.67 and 0.91. The following median brain-blood ratios were obtained: 3.71 for citalopram (range: 1.4-5.9), 11.0 for duloxetine (range: 5.0-21.6), 1.53 for mirtazapine (range: 1.02-4.71) and 7.38 for sertraline (range: 3.2-14.2). The S/R ratio of racemic citalopram was the same in brain (0.80) and blood (0.85), whereas the median citalopram/N-desmethylcitalopram ratio was higher in brain (9.1) than blood (4.1). The results of this study may serve as reference concentrations in brain for forensic cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nedahl
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V's vej 11, 3. Floor, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Sys Stybe Johansen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V's vej 11, 3. Floor, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kristian Linnet
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V's vej 11, 3. Floor, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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Simultaneous determination of drugs and pesticides in postmortem blood using dispersive solid-phase extraction and large volume injection-programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 290:318-326. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.07.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Nedahl M, Johansen S, Linnet K. Reference Brain and Blood Concentrations of Olanzapine in Postmortem Cases. J Anal Toxicol 2018; 42:650-654. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bky036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Nedahl
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V’s vej 11, 3. Floor, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Sys Johansen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V’s vej 11, 3. Floor, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kristian Linnet
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Frederik V’s vej 11, 3. Floor, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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Advantages of analyzing postmortem brain samples in routine forensic drug screening—Case series of three non-natural deaths tested positive for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Forensic Sci Int 2017; 278:e14-e18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.07.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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