Morphine concentrations in blood and organs in cases of fatal poisoning

Felby, Søren; Christensen, Hanne; Lund, Alf

doi:10.1016/0300-9432(74)90010-7

Cited by 71 publications

(30 citation statements)

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“…The redistribution potential of morphine can be seen with the 'reservoir' tissues for morphine. Higher concentration of free morphine (when compared to blood samples) have been observed in humans in lung [45], liver [46,47], muscle [46] and myocardium [48] thus potentially setting up a concentration gradients in which morphine can diffuse. This human data is mirrored in the animal studies in which free morphine was again found in higher concentrations than femoral blood in liver, muscle, lung, kidney [this study, [9,49]].…”

Section: Postmortem Morphine Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postmortem redistribution of the heroin metabolites morphine and morphine-3-glucuronide in rabbits over 24 h

Maskell

Albeishy²,

Paoli

et al. 2015

Int J Legal Med

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The interpretation of postmortem drug levels is complicated by changes in drug blood levels in the postmortem period, a phenomena known as postmortem drug redistribution. We investigated the postmortem redistribution of the heroin metabolites morphine and morphine-3-glucuronide in a rabbit model. Heroin (1mg/kg) was injected into anesthetised rabbit, after 1 hour an auricular vein blood sample was taken and the rabbit was euthanised. Following death rabbits were placed in a supine position at room temperature and divided into 3 groups namely 1) immediate autopsy, 2) autopsy after 30 minutes and 3) autopsy 24 h after death. Various samples which included femoral

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Section: Postmortem Morphine Levelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postmortem redistribution of the heroin metabolites morphine and morphine-3-glucuronide in rabbits over 24 h

Maskell

Albeishy²,

Paoli

et al. 2015

Int J Legal Med

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show abstract

“…Significant increases in morphine levels up to 1900% have been found in the heart, forebrain and liver 96 h after death [19]. In humans, concentrations of total morphine greater than those in blood were found in the lungs [20], liver [21,22], and bile [22], while concentrations in muscle tissue were similar to those in blood [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Postmortem distribution pattern of morphine and morphine glucuronides in heroin overdose

et al. 1996

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The postmortem distribution of morphine and its metabolites was investigated in four cases of heroin overdose to evaluate some of the factors that influence intravasal blood concentrations. Variables included were the chemical stability of morphine conjugates, hemoconcentration, incomplete distribution of the drug and diffusion processes. Blood samples from different sampling sites including the aorta, the infra- and suprarenal portion of the inferior vena cava, the superior vena cava, the femoral and subclavian veins, and the right and left ventricles were examined for morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide, hematocrit and water content. Drug concentrations were determined by HPLC based on the native fluorescence of the analytes. Morphine glucuronides proved to be stable for a time period of 72 h. The water content ranged from 65 to 83% and hematocrit values from 25 to 75%, and were seen as contributory factors to the dramatic differences observed for drug concentrations from different sampling sites. The differences could neither be attributed to incomplete distribution during life-time nor to a diffusion process following the different distribution volumes of morphine and its conjugates. A definite relationship between the ratio of the molar concentrations of morphine and its glucuronides, as assessed in pharmacokinetical studies after morphine dosing, could not be established. For a better understanding more cases and changes over time and tissue concentrations should be analysed.

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“…Im Liquor und in der Glask6rperfltissigkeit lagen die Morphinkonzentrationen somit in der gleichen Gr66enordnung; sie waren teilweise aber erheblich niedriger als die Urinkonzentrationen, was in ~hnlichen Untersuchungen einige Autoren -wie z. Morphinkonzentrationen im Blur nach t6dlichen Morphin-oder Heroinvergiftungen ~qurden mehrfach bestimmt: so fanden Felby et al (1974) gaschromatographisch einen Konzentrationsbereich yon 200-2.800 ng Morphin/ml Blut, Coumbis und Kaul (1974) radioimmunologisch von 180-2000 ng/ml und Richards et al (1976) fluorimetrisch von 10-1.400 ng/ml. Die Morphinspiegel irn Liquor und in der Glask6rper-fltissigkeit liegen offenbar generell im unteren Bereich der Blutkonzentrationen.…”

Section: B) Quantitative Untersuchungen Zur Erstellung Yon Eichkurveunclassified

Radioimmunologische Morphinbestimmung in der Glask�rperfl�ssigkeit des Auges und im Liquor cerebrospinalis

Bösche

Gelbke

1977

Z Rechtsmed

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In 12 cases of fatal poisoning with morphine or heroin a radioimmunological determination of morphine was carried out in vitreous humor, cerebrospinal fluid and urine. The concentrations varied between 30 and 350 ng of morphine-equivalents/ml in the cerebrospinal fluid and between 45 and 280 ng/ml in the vitreous humor (urine concentrations: 120-100.000 ng/ml). The counts per minute differed significantly for samples with and without prior ingestion of morphine, when vitreous and cerebrospinal fluids were tested by the morphine (3H) radioimmunoassay. Thereby it was clearly demonstrated, that radioimmunoassay is a valuable screening procedure for the rapid identification of morphine in corpses, even when urine is not available.

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Morphine concentrations in blood and organs in cases of fatal poisoning

Cited by 71 publications

References 1 publication

Postmortem redistribution of the heroin metabolites morphine and morphine-3-glucuronide in rabbits over 24 h

Postmortem redistribution of the heroin metabolites morphine and morphine-3-glucuronide in rabbits over 24 h

Postmortem distribution pattern of morphine and morphine glucuronides in heroin overdose

Radioimmunologische Morphinbestimmung in der Glask�rperfl�ssigkeit des Auges und im Liquor cerebrospinalis

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