title: New psychoactive substance α-PVP in a traffic accident case.
abstract: The problems of new psychoactive substances (NPSs), especially related to drivers, constitute an open research area. In this case report, we present a traffic accident case, in which two passengers of five individuals died instantly, while the other three persons survived the accident with minor injuries only. From the blood samples of the driver and the passengers, α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP), an NPS belonging to the category of cathinone derivatives, was disclosed. Therefore, we established a detailed procedure for analysis of α-PVP in blood samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. After careful validation tests of this method, α-PVP concentration in blood samples from the surviving driver and passengers, and from the two deceased, were measured. The concentrations varied from 20 to 650 ng/mL. Access to detailed information originating from the court files and from explanations provided by the driver and eye witnesses revealed extremely valuable illustrative details addressing the symptoms and pharmacological effects of α-PVP on the human organism, thus contributing to enriching the body of knowledge of α-PVP abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Grzegórzecka 16 Str, 31-531 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojek
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Grzegórzecka 16 Str, 31-531 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Grzegórzecka 16 Str, 31-531 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Martyna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maciów-Głąb
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Grzegórzecka 16 Str, 31-531 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kłys
keywords: DRUID; New psychoactive substances (NPSs); Psychological symptoms; Traffic accident; α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP)