Unsuspected self-poisoning with flecainide and alcohol.
The death of a 23-year-old man by suicidal flecainide and alcohol poisoning is reported. Flecainide was identified by ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Flecainide levels, quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection were: femoral blood 7.3 mg/L, urine 117 mg/L, stomach contents 19 mg and liver 302 mg/kg. Ethanol levels in femoral blood, urine and vitreous humor were 107, 136 and 113 mg%, respectively. The importance of carefully considering all the available pathological and toxicological data, together with the past medical history and circumstances surrounding the death in poisoning cases is emphasized.
Sadler
D W
DW
Department of Forensic Medicine, Dundee Royal Infirmary, Scotland.
Quigley
C
C
D000328:Adult; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D062787:Drug Overdose; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005424:Flecainide / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D013405:Suicide; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000737:chemistry
D000431:Ethanol; D005424:Flecainide