title: Case report: Etizolam and its major metabolites in two unnatural death cases.
abstract: A simultaneous analytical method for etizolam and its main metabolites (alpha-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam) in whole blood was developed using solid-phase extraction, TMS derivatization and ion trap gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Separation of etizolam, TMS derivatives of alpha-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam and fludiazepam as internal standard was performed within about 17 min. The inter-day precision evaluated at the concentration of 50 ng/mL etizolam, alpha-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam was evaluated 8.6, 6.4 and 8.0% respectively. Linearity occurred over the range in 5-50 ng/mL. This method is satisfactory for clinical and forensic purposes. This method was applied to two unnatural death cases suspected to involve etizolam. Etizolam and its two metabolites were detected in these cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science, International University of Health and Welfare, 2600-1 Kitakanemaru, Ohtawara, Tochigi 324-8501, Japan. tak-n@iuhw.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takuma
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamae
authors.forename: Tatsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinozuka
authors.forename: Chizuko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ogamo
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murakami-Hashimoto
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Terada
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurihara
mesh_terms: D003975:Diazepam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052616:Solid Phase Extraction; D013405:Suicide; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning
chemical_list: C539701:8-hydroxyetizolam; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents; C069801:alpha-hydroxyetizolam; C044610:etizolam; D003975:Diazepam