An ocfentanil‐related death case: UHPLC–MS/MS analysis of the drug

Casati, Sara; Minoli, Mauro; Angeli, I; Ravelli, Alessandro; Crudele, Graziano Domenico Luigi; Orioli, Marica

doi:10.1002/dta.2473

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(26 reference statements)

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“…Ocfentanil has been the main causative synthetic opioid in fatal overdose cases in Belgium [163] , Switzerland [164] and Italy. [165] Analysis in all cases above involving fatalities were done using LC-MS and hyphenated methods (e.g., UHPLC-MS-MS). Analysis by GC-MS cannot be found except for a report from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute in Barcelona, Spain surfacing in 2017 by Quintana et al describing the identification of ocfentanil in heroin samples purchased in the hidden web.…”

Section: Ocfentanilmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Synthetic Opioids Belonging to the Fentanyl Class: A Review

Valdez

2021

Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry

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The rising number of deaths caused by fentanyl overdosing in the US due to the overwhelming illicit use of this synthetic opioid has started a global campaign to develop efficient ways to control its production and distribution as well as discovering efficient antidotes to mitigate its lethal effects. Another important vein of focused research established by various agencies lies in the development of efficient and practical protocols for the detection of this opioid and analogs thereof in various matrices, whether environmental or biological in nature, particularly in the field of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The following review will cover the literature dealing with the detection and identification of synthetic opioids belonging to the fentanyl class by GC-MS means and hyphenated versions of the technique. Detailed descriptions will be given for the GC-MS methods employed for the analysis of the opioid, starting with the nature of the extraction protocol employed prior to analysis to the actual findings presented by the cited reports. Great effort has gone into describing the methods involved in each paper in a detailed manner and these have been compiled by year in tables at the end of each section for the reader's convenience. Lastly, the review will end with concluding remarks about the state of GC-MS analysis with regards to these powerful opioids and what lies ahead for this analytical field.

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Section: Ocfentanilmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Synthetic Opioids Belonging to the Fentanyl Class: A Review

Valdez

2021

Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry

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“…Users reported a quick onset, in about 3 minutes, a “stimulant” effect and the early appearance of withdrawal symptoms [ 45 ]. Even though cases of death due to OCF were reported [ 9 , 22 , 32 , 46 - 48 ], deaths were non-witnessed and cannot provide a picture of the symptoms. The low number of non-fatal intoxications does not speak in favor of low toxicity of the compound, and, given the described sudden loss of consciousness reported after snorting OCF [ 41 ], the possibility of fatal collapses while driving has to be considered.…”

Section: Psychomotor Performances In Humans - Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensorimotor Alterations Induced by Novel Fentanyl Analogs in Mice: Possible Impact on Human Driving Performances

Marti

Bilel

Giorgetti

et al. 2023

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Operating a vehicle is a complex task that requires multiple cognitive functions and psychomotor skills to cooperate. Driving might be impaired by licit or illicit drugs, including novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and novel synthetic opioids (NSO), the effects of which are still yet to be elucidated in humans. In the present work, a revision of the literature regarding the psychomotor impairing effects of Fentanyl (FENT) and three analogues (Acrylfentanyl, Ocfentanyl and Furanylfentanyl) is presented, as emerged by experimental studies on humans, driving under the influence of a drug (DUID) and intoxication cases. An experimental study on a mouse model evaluated the sensorimotor alterations induced by FENT and the three fentalogs. Acute systemic administration of the four opioids (0.01-15 mg/kg i.p.) dose-dependently decreased the visual object and placing tests, the acoustic and the tactile responses of mice. The preclinical data are in accordance with the data that emerged from the revision of the literature regarding experimental data on humans, driving under the influence of drugs and intoxication cases, suggesting that novel synthetic opioids might affect the psychomotor performances on daily human tasks with a particular focus on driving.

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“…In the case series of three intoxications, caused by nasal insufflation of capsules containing ocfentanil, blood concentrations varied from 13.9 to 35.2 ng/mL. Another fatal case was reported in 2018 in Italy (31); ocfentanil concentrations were reported in femoral blood, cardiac blood, urine, bile, brain, liver, kidney and lung.…”

Section: Ocfentanil or N-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-methoxy-n-[1-(2-phenyleth...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Figure 1), also called A-3217, was patented in 1986 and evaluated in humans in 1989; it was subsequently not approved for medical use (31,63).…”

Section: Ocfentanil or N-(2-fluorophenyl)-2-methoxy-n-[1-(2-phenyleth...mentioning

confidence: 99%

A 2017–2019 Update on Acute Intoxications and Fatalities from Illicit Fentanyl and Analogs

Brunetti

Pirani

Carlier

et al. 2020

Journal of Analytical Toxicology

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The aim of this review was to report the most recent cases of acute intoxication, fatalities and “driving under the influence” cases, involving illicit fentanyl and its newest analogues. When available, information on age, sex, circumstances of exposure, intoxication symptoms, cause of death (if applicable) and toxicology results from biological fluid testing was described. Scientific publications reporting fatalities or acute intoxications involving use of fentanyl derivatives were identified from PubMed, Scopus and institutional/governmental websites from January 2017 up to December 2019. The search terms, used alone and in combination, were as follows: fentanyl, street fentanyl, analogues, compounds, derivatives, abuse, fatality, fatalities, death, toxicity, intoxication and adverse effects. When considered relevant, reports not captured by the initial search but cited in other publications were also included. Of the 2890 sources initially found, only 44 were suitable for the review. Emergent data showed that the most common analogues detected in biological samples and seized materials are acetylfentanyl, acrylfentanyl, butyrfentanyl, carfentanil, cyclopropylfentanyl, fluorofentanyl, 4-fluorobutyrfentanyl, 4-fluoroisobutyrfentanyl, furanylfentanyl, 2-methoxyacetylfentanyl, 3-methylfentanyl and ocfentanil. These compounds were frequently administered in association with other illicit substances, medicinal drugs and/or alcohol; patients and the victims often had a previous history of drug abuse. The trend of fentanyl analogues is rapidly evolving with illicit market fluctuations. Since information about potency and lethal dosage are frequently unknown, it is important to identify the new trends for further investigation on therapeutic use, toxicity and fatal doses, and implement public health measures. Recently marketed FAs such as crotonylfentanyl and valerylfentanyl were not involved in intoxications to date, but should be carefully monitored. Many intoxications and fatalities might have gone unnoticed, and research efforts should focus on metabolite identification studies and the implementation of updated and comprehensive analytical methods

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An ocfentanil‐related death case: UHPLC–MS/MS analysis of the drug

Cited by 10 publications

References 13 publications

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Synthetic Opioids Belonging to the Fentanyl Class: A Review

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Synthetic Opioids Belonging to the Fentanyl Class: A Review

Sensorimotor Alterations Induced by Novel Fentanyl Analogs in Mice: Possible Impact on Human Driving Performances

A 2017–2019 Update on Acute Intoxications and Fatalities from Illicit Fentanyl and Analogs

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