Postmortem Redistribution of Tramadol and O-Desmethyltramadol

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Isabel Costa (Author) Other; Ana Oliveira (Author) Other; de Pinho, PG (Author) FFUP; Helena Maria Teixeira (Author) Other; Roxana Moreira (Author) Other; Felix Carvalho (Author) FFUP; Ricardo Jorge Dinis Oliveira (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Analytical Toxicology

Vol. 37

Pages: 670-675

ISSN: 0146-4760

Publisher: Perston Publications, Inc.

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 32 Citations

Scopus - 36 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-6CP

DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkt084

Abstract (EN): Tramadol is a widely used analgesic opioid for moderate-to-severe pain due to its efficacy and safety. Although tramadol induces less adverse effects compared with other opioids, an increased number of documented cases of dependence, abuse, intentional overdose or intoxication have been described. In fatal intoxication, the interpretation of the probable cause of death often relies on the measurement of the tramadol concentration in blood. However, postmortem redistribution (PMR) may affect the results and therefore bias the autopsy report. In the present study, the postmortem cardiac and femoral blood samples from 15 cases of fatal tramadol intoxication were obtained to assess the PMR of tramadol and its main active metabolite, O-desmethyltramadol (M1). Toxicological analysis was performed by the gas chromatographyelectron impact-mass spectrometry (GCEI-MS) method, previously developed and validated for the quantification of both analytes. The cardiac-to-femoral blood ratios of 1.40 and 1.28 were obtained for tramadol and M1, respectively. Results were compared with those in the literature and it was possible to conclude that femoral blood should be considered for quantitative interpretations in fatal cases of tramadol intoxication.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6