Fatal poisoning with detajmium: identification of detajmium and its metabolites and artifacts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography.
After ingestion of an unknown dose of detajmium, a 14-year-old female collapsed with asystolia. Resuscitation efforts were not successful. A medicolegal autopsy was carried out, and blood, liver and gastric content were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After derivatization with acetic anhydride, detajmium and twelve of its derivatives and metabolites were identified. The main metabolic pathways include hydroxylation and subsequent O-methylation of the indol ring, and oxidation as well as reduction of the C-21 hydroxyl function. Cleavage of the N-alkyl side-chain is a further, possibly non-enzymatic degradation pathway. Artifact formation induced by acetylation included dehydratation of the hydroxyl function of C-21 and the N-alkyl side-chain. The detajmium concentration in blood of the decreased was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (12 micrograms/ml).
Tenczer
J
J
Department of Toxicology, Landesuntersuchungsinsitut für Lebensmittel, Arzneimittel und Tierseuchen Berlin, Germany.
Lappenberg-Pelzer
M
M
Schneider
V
V
Demme
U
U
Köppel
C
C
D000089:Acetic Anhydrides / Q000032:analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000404:Ajmaline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D001344:Autopsy; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*
D000089:Acetic Anhydrides; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000404:Ajmaline; C036103:detajmium