Methamphetamine Body Packer: Acute Poisoning Death Due to Massive Leaking of Methamphetamine

Abstract

We encountered three methamphetamine (MA) body packers presenting simultaneously, one of whom died. Three Nigerian men (39, 35, and 37 years old) who attempted to smuggle were found to contain 35 (498 g), 21 (292 g), and 5 packages (73 g) of methamphetamine hydrochloride (MA-HCl) in their stomachs, respectively. Packages were wrapped with plastic film and Scotch tape. The 39-year-old man died with acute poisoning from c. 20 g of MA-HCl that had leaked from the packages into the stomach. His plasma MA concentration was 8.6 microg/mL when he was hospitalized (17 h before his death). Autopsy findings showed extreme pulmonary congestion and edema as well as moderate hepatic edema and several petechiae. Quantitative analysis was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Extremely high concentrations of MA and its metabolite amphetamine (AP) were found in cardiac blood (63.5 microg/mL and 1.2 microg/mL), urine (4,518 microg/mL and 72.4 microg/mL), gastric contents (8,490 microg/mL and 16.9 microg/mL), and in all other autopsy samples. These high concentrations confirmed that the cause of death was acute MA poisoning. Furthermore, impurity-profiling analysis of the seized MA revealed that the MA smuggled by the three suspects originated from the same batch.

Methamphetamine decreases K+ channel function in human fetal astrocytes by activating the trace amine‐associated receptor type‐1

“…To determine Meth effects on RMP of HFAs, we assessed RMP that was exposed to 20 or 100 μM Meth in vitro . We found that both 20 μM Meth ( n = 17, −35.6 ± 1.8 mV) that mimicked non-lethal blood levels of Meth in Meth users (Melega et al 2007), and 100 μM Meth ( n = 12, −37.4 ± 2.9 mV) that was similar lethal Meth levels (Takekawa et al . 2007; Kiely et al 2009), induced a significant RMP depolarization in HFAs compared to those in the control condition ( n = 37, −43.8 ± 1.4 mV; One-way ANOVA : F (2,63) = 6.119, p = 0.004) (Fig.…”

“…To advance our understanding for the Meth impact on K + channel activity and its underlying mechanism(s) in HFAs, we performed electrophysiological studies using whole-cell voltage-clamp recording of HFAs following acute Meth exposure (20 and 100 μM) in vitro . We selected such concentrations based on that the blood levels of Meth in ‘recreational’ users are reported at 0.2–17 lM (Melega et al 2007); while higher Meth blood levels (~ 58–400 μM) could be toxic/fatal (Takekawa et al 2007; Kiely et al 2009). These clinical studies provide us the opportunity to suggest and use such ‘recreational’ and ‘fatal/toxic’ doses of Meth in the present study.…”

Bioenergetics Failure and Oxidative Stress in Brain Stem Mediates Cardiovascular Collapse Associated with Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication

“…As such, we chose intravenous administration of METH in our study because this is a common route [18] that is employed by abusers to rapidly raise the blood concentration of METH to euphoric levels. At the same time, we chose to employ high doses of METH that would result in cardiovascular collapse and fatality to mimic observations from clinical conditions [19], [20]. Compared to its primary metabolite amphetamine, METH is more lipid-soluble, with enhanced transport across the blood-brain barrier and stability against enzymatic degradation by monoamine oxidase [21].…”

Highly sensitive fluorescent aptasensor based on MoS2 nanosheets for one-step determination of methamphetamine

“…Methamphetamine (MTA), as a novel excitatory drug, has been used frequently and illegally worldwide 1 . It can cause varying degrees of damage to the vital organs and mental system of human [2][3][4] , with plenty of forensic case reports of MTA poisoning occurring [5][6][7][8] . Therefore, the efficient determination of MTA is practically essential for forensic toxicological identification.…”