title: Identification and quantification of 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) in hair by LC-MS/MS after chronic administration.
abstract: 4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC) and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) are synthetic cathinones. The objective of this study was to develop a method in order to measure these compounds in hair of a patient. After decontamination, 20mg of hair were grinded and incubated in phosphate buffer pH 5.0 in presence of 100ng of MDMA-d5 used as internal standard. Double basic liquid-liquid extraction was performed. Samples were separated on a 1.9μm Hypersil GOLD PFP column (100×2.1mm) using gradient elution. Compounds were detected by a LCQ TSQ Vantage XP triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. SRM transitions m/z 192.1→146.1 and 174.2, m/z 276.1→175.0 and 205.1 and m/z 199.1→165.1 were used for 4-MEC, MDPV and IS, respectively. The assay was accurate and precise over the range 0.001 (lower limit of quantification) to 1ng/mg in hair. No matrix effect was observed. The method has been applied to a 30-year-old man who usually consumed cathinones for 6 months administered intravenously and was admitted to a general hospital for delirious and tachycardia after absorption of 10g of a powder sold as 4-MEC and 5g of MDPV. Both 4-MEC (30ng/mg) and MDPV (1ng/mg) were identified in the hair at high concentrations showing a regular consumption of these drugs. Many others compounds were also identified (mephedrone, MDMA, MDA, cocaine and metabolites, tramadol, hydroxyzine, aripiprazole, haloperidol). Few data are available on concentration of these new designer drugs in hair however important in order to determine the acute or chronic consumption of these drugs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology-Toxicology, AP-HP, Raymond Poincaré Universitary Hospital, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Inserm U-1173, 92380 Garches, France. Electronic address: jean-claude.alvarez@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology-Toxicology, AP-HP, Raymond Poincaré Universitary Hospital, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Inserm U-1173, 92380 Garches, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Etting
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology-Toxicology, AP-HP, Raymond Poincaré Universitary Hospital, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Inserm U-1173, 92380 Garches, France.
authors.forename: Emuri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.affiliation: Centre Antipoison, AP-HP, Fernand Widal Universitary Hospital, 75475 Paris Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology-Toxicology, AP-HP, Raymond Poincaré Universitary Hospital, Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University, Inserm U-1173, 92380 Garches, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fabresse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000032:analysis*; D052117:Benzodioxoles / Q000032:analysis*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D015198:Designer Drugs / Q000032:analysis*; D053593:Forensic Toxicology / Q000379:methods; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000032:analysis*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000032:analysis*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D000094982:Synthetic Cathinone
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D052117:Benzodioxoles; D015198:Designer Drugs; D011427:Propiophenones; D011759:Pyrrolidines; C585202:4-methylethcathinone; D000094982:Synthetic Cathinone
keywords: 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone; 4-Methylethcathinone; Designer drugs; Hair; LC–MS–MS