Quantitative analysis of 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone in blood and urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in a fatal case.
We report here the quantitative analysis of cathinone-type designer drug 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone (3,4-DMMC) in blood and urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in a fatal case. Abuse of 3,4-DMMC is widespread and a global issue. However, to date, there have been no reports of 3,4-DMMC-related deaths. We encountered a death in which 3,4-DMMC was thought to play a causative role, and successfully identified this designer drug from biological samples by using LC-MS/MS and QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) extraction method. For standard samples, detection of 3,4-DMMC in human blood and urine samples in the calibration range (5-400 ng/mL) was successful with recoveries of 85.9-89.4% (blood) and 95.8-101% (urine), limits of detection of 1.03 (blood) and 1.37 ng/mL (urine) and limits of quantification of 5.00 (blood) and 5.38 ng/mL (urine). The concentrations of 3,4-DMMC in blood (external iliac vein) and urine in the case were 27 mg/L and 7.6 mg/L, respectively. Some metabolites, including 3,4-dimethylcathione (DMC) and β-ketone reduced metabolites (β-OH-DMMC and β-OH-DMC), were detected in both blood and urine.
Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. Electronic address: usui@forensic.med.tohoku.ac.jp.
Kiyotaka
K
Usui
Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Tomomi
T
Aramaki
Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Masaki
M
Hashiyada
Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Yoshie
Y
Hayashizaki
Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Masato
M
Funayama
D000328:Adult; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods; D002423:Cause of Death; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000032:analysis* / Q000506:poisoning; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000506:poisoning; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods
D000470:Alkaloids; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D015198:Designer Drugs; D011427:Propiophenones; C023665:cathinone; C000595156:3,4-dimethylmethcathinone
3,4-Dimethylmethcathinone; Designer drugs; Drugs of abuse; LC–MS/MS; QuEChERS; Synthetic cathinones