Fatal poisoning with detajmium: identification of detajmium and its metabolites and artifacts by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and quantification by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract

After ingestion of an unknown dose of detajmium, a 14-year-old female collapsed with asystolia. Resuscitation efforts were not successful. A medicolegal autopsy was carried out, and blood, liver and gastric content were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After derivatization with acetic anhydride, detajmium and twelve of its derivatives and metabolites were identified. The main metabolic pathways include hydroxylation and subsequent O-methylation of the indol ring, and oxidation as well as reduction of the C-21 hydroxyl function. Cleavage of the N-alkyl side-chain is a further, possibly non-enzymatic degradation pathway. Artifact formation induced by acetylation included dehydratation of the hydroxyl function of C-21 and the N-alkyl side-chain. The detajmium concentration in blood of the decreased was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection (12 micrograms/ml).

• Authors: J Tenczer, M Lappenberg-Pelzer, V Schneider, U Demme, C Köppel
• Journal: Journal of chromatography. B, Biomedical applications (J Chromatogr B Biomed Appl) Vol. 661 Issue 1 Pg. 47-53 (Nov 04 1994) ISSN: 1572-6495 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 7866551 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Acetic Anhydrides
• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
• Ajmaline
• detajmium

Topics

• Acetic Anhydrides (analysis)
• Adolescent
• Ajmaline (analogs & derivatives, analysis, blood, poisoning)
• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents (analysis, blood, poisoning)
• Autopsy
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid (methods)
• Female
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (methods)
• Gastrointestinal Contents (chemistry)
• Humans
• Liver (chemistry)