Methoxetamine and its metabolites: Postmortem determination in body fluids of human cadaver.
Miroslava Bursová, Tomáš Hložek, Miloš Sokol, Monika Židková, Radomír Čabala
Journal of analytical toxicology January 31, 2024 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkad084 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 42-year-old man who used drugs died at home and his body was found two months later. Autopsy did not reveal an obvious cause of death, but toxicology screening using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry detected methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analog, and several of its metabolites in blood, urine, and gastric contents. MXE concentrations were 3.6 ng/mL in blood, 70.5 ng/mL in urine, and 18.0 ng/mL in gastric content. No other drugs or poisons were found, so despite the low blood level, MXE likely contributed to the death. The case shows that MXE and its metabolites can be detected in a decomposing body even after two months.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 42-year-old male known drug user |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key finding | Methoxetamine (MXE) and its metabolites were detected in a decomposing body two months after death, and despite a low blood concentration of 3.6 ng/mL, MXE was inferred to have contributed to the victim's death. |
Abstract
We report the forensic case of a 42-year-old man, a known drug user, who died at home and whose body was only discovered 2 months later. Autopsy was performed on a corpse in the late postmortem stage where no apparent cause of death was found. A toxicological screening of biological materials (blood, urine and gastric content) using liquid chromatography with different types of mass detection (ion trap and high-resolution) revealed the presence of methoxetamine (MXE), a ketamine analog, and its metabolites. MXE and a number of its metabolites (e.g., O-desmethyl, N-desethyl, hydroxy, glucuronides and sulfates) were identified in urine. Based on the results, a method using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated for the determination of MXE concentration in biological materials. The following values of MXE concentration were found: blood-3.6 ng/mL, urine-70.5 ng/mL and gastric content-18.0 ng/mL. Given the absence of other drugs, medications and poisons, it can be inferred that despite relatively low blood concentrations, MXE contributed to the victim's death. The present case demonstrates that even after 2 months, MXE and its several metabolites can be detected and determined in the human cadaver at a relatively advanced stage of decomposition.