Recent paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) deaths in Taiwan.
Paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) and paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) are methoxylated phenylethylamine derivatives that have been banned in Taiwan since December 2005. The case history and pathological and toxicological findings of eight recent PMMA fatalities were investigated. All specimens from these cases were initially identified by an AxSYM fluorescence polarization immunoassay screening test for amphetamines with a 300 ng/mL cutoff. Specimens screened positive were confirmed and quantitated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mean age of these PMMA-related fatalities was 18.9 +/- 4.4 years in the range of 14-25. Seven (87.5%) of these eight cases were men. The mean, standard deviation, and range of PMA found in the heart blood collected from these 8 cases were 0.213, 0.144, and 0.079-0.489 microg/mL, respectively. The corresponding data for PMMA were 4.312, 4.806, and 1.208-15.824 microg/mL, respectively. Other drugs, such as MDA, MDMA, ketamine, norketamine, hydroxymidazolam, methamphetamine, and pentobarbital, were also found in these cases.
Lin
Dong-Liang
DL
Institute of Forensic Medicine, Ministry of Justice, Taipei, Taiwan. dllin@mail.moj.gov.tw
Liu
Hsiu-Chuan
HC
Yin
Hsin-Ling
HL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D002423:Cause of Death; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning*; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000506:poisoning; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
D000662:Amphetamines; D006213:Hallucinogens; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C106885:paramethoxymethamphetamine; D008694:Methamphetamine; C100230:4-methoxyamphetamine