Postmortem distribution of MAB-CHMINACA in body fluids and solid tissues of a human cadaver

Abstract

During the latter part of 2014, we experienced an autopsy case in which 5-fluoro-ADB, one of the most dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, was identified and quantitated in solid tissues and in three herbal blend products [Forensic Toxicol (2015) 33:112–121]. At that time, although we suspected that there may be some drug(s) other than 5-fluoro-ADB in the herbal products, all trials to find it/them were unsuccessful. Subsequently, we carefully re-examined the presence of other synthetic cannabinoid(s) in the above herbal blend products using accurate mass spectrometry and found two new compounds, 5-fluoro-ADB-PINACA and MAB-CHMINACA (Forensic Toxicol. doi: 10.1007/s 11419-015-0264-y). In the present communication, we report the distribution of MAB-CHMINACA in body fluids and solid tissue specimens collected from the same deceased individual (kept frozen at −80 °C) as described above for demonstration of 5-fluoro-ADB. Unexpectedly, unchanged MAB-CHMINACA could be identified and quantitated in whole blood and in pericardial fluid specimens, but it was below the detection limit (0.1 ng/ml) in the urine specimen. A higher concentration of MAB-CHMINACA could be found in all of the nine solid tissues; the highest concentration of MAB-CHMINACA was found in the liver (156 ng/g), followed by the kidney, pancreas and so on. The compounds were detected in all nine solid tissues; their levels were generally higher than those in the whole blood and pericardial fluid. Contrary to expectations, the concentration of MAB-CHMINACA in the adipose tissue was relatively low. Our results show that the victim smoked one of the three herbal blend products containing both MAB-CHMINACA and 5-fluoro-ADB, resulting in the coexistence of both compounds. It should be concluded that 5-fluoro-ADB and MAB-CHMINACA synergically exerted their toxicities, leading to death after a short interval. The differences in the distribution of 5-fluoro-ADB and MAB-CHMINACA among the cadaver specimens were also discussed in view of the structures of both compounds. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate MAB-CHMINACA in biological/human specimens.

Identification of New Synthetic Cannabinoid ADB-CHMINACA (MAB-CHMINACA) Metabolites in Human Hepatocytes

“…(34,36). ADB-CHMINACA fragments m/z 145, 241, and 326 were previously identified by MS/MS after ESI (12,15) and MS after electronic impact ionization (12).…”

“…Herbal blends that were ingested contained 133 ± 4.5 mg/g ADB-CHMINACA and 49.2 ± 2.5 mg/g 5F-ADBICA, another SC (12,14). Postmortem femoral vein blood, right heart blood, and left heart blood concentrations of ADB-CHMINACA were 6.1 ± 0.2, 10.6 ± 0.7, and 9.3 ± 0.3 μg/L, respectively (15). Multiple outbreaks of severe intoxications associated with ADB-CHMINACA intake were also reported in the USA (Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia), including hundreds of hospitalizations and at least three fatalities (7,16).…”

“…1) (25). In a fatal case of intoxicationinvolvingADB-CHMINACA,thedrugwasquantified in 14 different postmortem bodyfluids and tissues (6.1 to 156 μg/L or g) but was not detectable in urine (15). Under these conditions, detection of ADB-CHMINACA urinary metabolites may be critical to document intake.…”

How Present Synthetic Cannabinoids Can Help Predict Symptoms in the Future

“…It was also interesting to see the drug was accumulating in the kidney, possibly in an effort to remove it from the system. 21 Freijo et al 22 used a simple approach to detect and quantify many classical synthetic cannabinoids as well as AB-FUBINACA using LC-MS/MS. In this research they spiked drug-free urine samples with various synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites.…”

Bioanalytical methods for the determination of synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites in biological specimens

“…However, blood sampling requires the presence of medical staff for the collection and there being a risk of infection. [36], 5F-PB-22 [35], MAM-2201 [42], and ADB-CHMINACA [38], respectively. However, the lethal doses for many SCs are still unknown.…”