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XXXV TIAFT Annual Meeting Postmortem Analysis and Drug Stability
DETECTION OF SELECTED DRUGS IN CADAVERIC FEMORAL BONES

King C.V., McIntyre I.M., Drummer O.H.

Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University,57-83 Kavanagh Street, Southbank 3006, Australia


The aim of this study was to determine the disposition of targeted drugs in cadaveric femoral bone. Targeted drugs included amitriptyline, dothiepin, doxepin, chlorpromazine, dextropropoxyphene, diazepam, oxazepam and temazepam. Primary metabolites, where possible, were included in the study. According to available circumstances, 12 coronial cases (20-77 years) were selected where chronic administration or drug overdose was suggested.

Method. Duplicate mid-femoral bone sections approximately 30-40 mm length were collected at autopsy in addition to routine toxicology samples. Marrow was removed. femoral bones were dissected free of overlying connective tissues, washed briefly with deionised water to remove blood and air-dried. Narrow sections approximately 1-2 mm thickness were cut and incubated with methanol at 50° C for 18 h. Solvent was harvested and concentrated by rotary evaporation. Lyophilisates were reconstituted in buffer for routine HPLC extractions.

Results. In 6 cases the minor tranquillisers diazepam, nordiazepam and temazepam were detected in concentrations ranging up to 0.9 mg/kg. In 4 cases amitriptyline, doxepin, dothiepin were detected in concentrations up to 0.8 mg/kg. Propoxyphene was detected in 3 cases, moclobemide in 2 cases and mianserin was detected in 1 case. Oxazepam and chlorpromazine were mentioned in one case each but were not detected in bone.

Conclusions. This study demonstrated that the majority of targeted drugs were exctractable from femoral compact bones.

Oral Presentations Abstract 008

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