title: A fatal case of poisoning with cantharidin.
abstract: A case of fatal poisoning due to voluntary ingestion of cantharides powder for aphrodisiac purposes is reported. Clinical history, autopsy and analytical findings are described. Blood and urine samples collected during the 30 h of survival, as well as the cantharides product, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. On the basis of the percentage of the active principle measured in the powder, an ingested dose of 26-45 mg of cantharidin could be estimated.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Forensic Toxicology, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polettini
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ravagli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saragoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001046:Aphrodisiacs / Q000506:poisoning; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011041:Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001046:Aphrodisiacs; D002193:Cantharidin