The possible influence of micro-organisms and putrefaction in the production of GHB in post-mortem biological fluid

Elliott, Simon; Lowe, P.; Symonds, Amanda

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2003.10.018

Cited by 49 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 15 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Ethanol is known to be formed post-mortem [10,11], and also for other substances, e.g. for gammahydroxybutyric acid (GHB) [12], the possibility of a postmortem formation by bacterial enzyme activity has been observed. Other substances such as methamphetamine, amphetamine [13,14] and diazepam [15] could still be detected in putrefied tissues after a long storage time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability of ethyl glucuronide in urine, post-mortem tissue and blood samples

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The stability of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) under conditions of degradation was examined in urine samples of nine volunteers and in post-mortem tissue (liver, skeletal muscle) and blood taken from seven corpses at autopsies. Analysis was performed via LC-MS/MS. EtG concentrations in urine samples ranged from 2.5 to 296.5 mg/l. When stored at 4 degrees C in airtight test tubes, EtG concentrations remained relatively constant; when stored at room temperature (RT) for 5 weeks in ventilated vials, variations of EtG concentrations ranged from a 30% decrease to an 80% increase, with an average of 37.5% increase. Liver and skeletal muscle tissue of three corpses with positive blood alcohol concentrations (BAC; ranging from 0.106 to 0.183 g%) were stored for 4 weeks and analysed periodically. EtG concentrations decreased 27.7% on average in 4 weeks storage at RT but EtG was still detectable in all samples with initial EtG concentrations higher than 1 mug/g. Blood and liver samples of four corpses with negative BACs were stored at RT after addition of 0.1 g% ethanol, and no new formation of EtG was observed.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stability of ethyl glucuronide in urine, post-mortem tissue and blood samples

et al. 2005

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A recent investigation [18] involving putrefied postmortem blood indicated there was no observed relationship between endogenous GHB concentrations and concentrations of common putrefactive markers, such as tryptamine and phenyl-2-ethylamine. In their conclusions, these authors proposed a potential microbial production of GHB with time.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 97%

GHB in postmortem toxicology

Kintz

Villain

Cirimele

et al. 2004

Forensic Science International

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Another drug that is known to form post-mortem is gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). This is present as an endogenous compound in ante-mortem samples at concentrations \10 mg/l in urine and \4 mg/l in blood and plasma [81]. However, concentrations up to 433 mg/l have been found in unpreserved post-mortem blood stored at room temperature, indicating production in vitro [82].…”

Section: Other Drugs and Poisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This work showed that the use of preservative and freezing help minimise GHB production in vitro, while the post-mortem blood produced significantly higher concentrations of GHB than the ante-mortem samples [83]. Particular bacterial species, C. aminobutyricum [84] and P. aeruginosa [81], have been linked with the production of GHB in blood samples. It is also known that barbiturates are unstable in alkaline solutions and can undergo two different hydrolysis pathways depending on the state of drug ionization [85], yet some bacterially contaminated blood samples with a pH less than 7.0 were stable for over 2-3 months [85].…”

Section: Other Drugs and Poisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of putrefaction and sample storage on post-mortem toxicology results

Butzbach

2009

Forensic Sci Med Pathol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There are numerous biochemical and biological processes that occur after death that may have a significant influence on post-mortem drug concentrations. These processes may render the quantification of particular drugs unreliable, or even result in drugs being undetectable in some instances, despite the use of several methods. Problems may occur with changes in the drug concentration via bacterial degradation, residual tissue enzymatic activity, or via post-mortem redistribution from tissues of a higher to a lower concentration. Many analytical techniques can suffer from interferences due to co-extracted putrefactive compounds that mask or alter the way a drug is detected, depending on the analytical technique utilised. The following paper reviews problems associated with post-mortem drug concentration changes, and the significance of microbial influences during the post-mortem interval and sample storage.

show abstract

The possible influence of micro-organisms and putrefaction in the production of GHB in post-mortem biological fluid

Cited by 49 publications

References 15 publications

Stability of ethyl glucuronide in urine, post-mortem tissue and blood samples

Stability of ethyl glucuronide in urine, post-mortem tissue and blood samples

GHB in postmortem toxicology

The influence of putrefaction and sample storage on post-mortem toxicology results

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About