title: Blood levels of 3-methylfentanyl in 3 fatal poisoning cases.
abstract: Three fatal poisoning cases due to 3-methylfentanyl are described. In each case, the death was accidental and occurred after injection of the opioid combined with amphetamine, heroin, or other drugs. The victims' ages, ranging from 30 to 41 years, were higher than those typically found in heroin poisonings in Finland. The blood concentrations of cis-3-methylfentanyl, measured here for the first time by a specific tandem mass spectrometric method, ranged from 0.3 to 0.9 microg/L (mean 0.5 microg/L). These values are significantly lower than the levels reported for alpha-methylfentanyl and fentanyl in fatal poisonings. Repeated seizures of fentanyl and its analogs have been reported in Europe close to the Russian border.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. ikka.ojanpera@helsinki.fi
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ojanperä
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gergov
authors.forename: Ilpo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rasanen
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lunetta
authors.forename: Sauli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toivonen
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tiainen
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vuori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D001344:Autopsy; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005260:Female; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011041:Poisoning / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; C030592:3-methylfentanyl; D005283:Fentanyl