Postmortem distribution of trazodone concentrations.
Non-toxic postmortem trazodone tissue (liver) concentrations have not been previously described. Liver trazodone concentrations were compared to peripheral blood and central blood concentrations in 19 medical examiner cases. Postmortem blood specimens were initially screened for alcohol and simple volatiles, drugs of abuse, and alkaline drugs. Trazodone, when detected by the alkaline drug screen, was subsequently confirmed and quantified by a high performance liquid chromatography procedure. Re-analyses showed that there may be degradation of trazodone in postmortem blood stored at 4°C. There was, on average, about a 20% decrease in samples stored up to eight months. These data suggest that postmortem trazodone peripheral blood concentrations may be considered non-toxic to at least 1.0mg/L with liver concentrations to at least 2.2mg/kg. Overall, trazodone concentrations ranged from 0.08-6.1mg/L in peripheral blood, 0.07-7.1mg/L in central blood, and 0.39-26mg/kg in liver. The median trazodone central blood to peripheral blood ratio was 0.98 (N=19). The liver to peripheral blood ratios showed a median value of 2.8L/kg (N=18). Given that a liver to peripheral blood ratio less than 5L/kg is consistent with little to no propensity for postmortem redistribution, these data demonstrate that trazodone is unlikely to show significant redistribution.
Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, County of San Diego Medical Examiner's Office, 5570 Overland Ave., Suite 101 San Diego, CA 92123 USA. Electronic address: Iain.McIntyre@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Iain M
IM
McIntyre
Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, County of San Diego Medical Examiner's Office, 5570 Overland Ave., Suite 101 San Diego, CA 92123 USA.
Phyllis
P
Mallett
County of San Diego Medical Examiner's Office, 5570 Overland Ave., Suite 101 San Diego, CA 92123 USA.
Robert
R
Stabley
D000328:Adult; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005260:Female; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014196:Trazodone / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014196:Trazodone
Central blood; Liver; Peripheral blood; Postmortem redistribution; Trazodone