Can measurements of heroin metabolites in post-mortem matrices other than peripheral blood indicate if death was rapid or delayed?

Forensic Science International : Synergy
C H ThaulowVigdis Vindenes

Abstract

In heroin-related deaths, it is often of interest to determine the approximate time span between intake of heroin and death, and to decide whether heroin or other opioids have been administered. In some autopsy cases, peripheral blood cannot be sampled due to decomposition, injuries or burns. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether measurements of heroin metabolites in matrices other than peripheral blood can be used to differentiate between rapid and delayed heroin deaths, and if morphine/codeine ratios measured in other matrices can separate heroin from codeine intakes. In this study, we included 51 forensic autopsy cases where morphine was detected in peripheral blood. Samples were collected from peripheral and cardiac blood, pericardial fluid, psoas and lateral vastus muscles, vitreous humor and urine. The opioid analysis included 6-acetylmorphine (6-AM), morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and codeine. Urine was only used for qualitative detection of 6-AM. 45 heroin-intake cases were divided into rapid deaths (n=24), based on the detection of 6-AM in blood, or delayed deaths (n=21), where 6-AM was detected in at least one other matrix but not in blood. An additional 6 cases ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 2, 2019·Current Epidemiology Reports·Svetla SlavovaJulia F Costich
Feb 23, 2020·Chirality·František KrálíkVladimír Setnička
Jan 2, 2021·Forensic Science International : Synergy·Wing-Sum ChanBobbie Kwok-Keung Cheung
Oct 9, 2020·Journal of Analytical Toxicology·Gerd JakobssonRobert Kronstrand

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