Detection of Bromisovalum from the Bone Marrow of Skeletonized Human Remains: A Case Report with a Comparison between Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS)

Abstract

We report a case of totally skeletonized human remains in which a considerable amount of a hypnotic, bromisovalum (bromovalerylurea), was detected from the bone marrow. The unknown skeletal remains were found in a bush, together with empty vials of bromisovalum and a water bottle. The body was identified as a 46-year-old male, who had died about seven months previously. There was no evidence of trauma. The dried bone marrow of both femurs was separately collected and toxicologically analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and a high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Bromisovalum was identified from the femurs. The concentration along with the circumstantial evidence suggested possible contribution of bromisovalum to the fatality. However, a considerable quantitative difference was observed between the left and right femur, showing significant post-mortem interference to toxicological evidence. The result showed that multiple sampling at least would be required for quantitative evaluation of post-mortem toxicological evidence. Moreover, the diagnostic value should also be considered with caution in relation to the load to bone marrow ratio of each drug concentration.

Postmortem toxicology of drugs of abuse

“…Bone [19,[22][23][24] has also been used by toxicologists in special types of analyses. MA, morphine and benzodiazepines have been detected in bone and bone marrow in human remains [19,[25][26][27][28] and MA in experimental rabbits [29].…”

Morphine and 6-acetylmorphine concentrations in blood, brain, spinal cord, bone marrow and bone after lethal acute or chronic diacetylmorphine administration to mice

“…www Moreover, it is encased in bone thus protecting it from possible contamination [9] or degradation. Several drugs including amitriptyline [8], metamphetamine and amphetamine [10], triazolam [11] and bromisovalum [12] have been detected and quantified in human bone marrow. Two conditions are required to ensure a diagnosis of fatal drug intoxication on bone marrow samples.…”

State-of-the-art of bone marrow analysis in forensic toxicology: a review

“…With increasing postmortem interval and depending on conservation conditions, BM samples can become dark and lose integrity [3,21], resulting in a brown oily liquid. They can also become adipocerous by saponification [52,53] or dry into brownish or yellowish powder [54][55][56]. Overall, BM has been found suitable for toxicological analysis in human corpses up to 5 years after death [57].…”

“…In at least six case reports [55,57,[65][66][67][68], toxicological findings were restricted to skeletal tissue analysis. They concerned corpses discovered in skeleton state, 7 months to 5 years after their disappearance.…”

“…Maeda et al [55] were able to detect bromisovalum in BM after the discovery of a skeleton on a bushy hill slope. Near the remains, three empty medication vials of bromovalerylurea (which would represent a maximum 30 g of bromisovalum) were discovered.…”