Case report: Etizolam and its major metabolites in two unnatural death cases

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 182; no. 1; pp. e1 - e6
• Main Authors: Nakamae, Takuma, Shinozuka, Tatsuo, Sasaki, Chizuko, Ogamo, Akira, Murakami-Hashimoto, Chikako, Irie, Wataru, Terada, Masaru, Nakamura, Shigeki, Furukawa, Masataka, Kurihara, Katsuyoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 20.11.2008; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Analytical chemistry; Calibration; Chromatography; Diazepam - analogs & derivatives; Diazepam - blood; Diazepam - poisoning; Drug dosages; Etizolam; Fatalities; Female; Forensic sciences; Forensic Toxicology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Humans; Ion trap GC–MS/MS; Male; Metabolite; Metabolites; Middle Aged; Pathology; Poisoning; Solid Phase Extraction; Suicide; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Temperature; Tranquilizing Agents - blood; Tranquilizing Agents - poisoning; Japan; Ion trap GC–MS/MS; Etizolam; Metabolite; Solid-phase extraction
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.08.012

Abstract A simultaneous analytical method for etizolam and its main metabolites (α-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam) in whole blood was developed using solid-phase extraction, TMS derivatization and ion trap gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). Separation of etizolam, TMS derivatives of α-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam and fludiazepam as internal standard was performed within about 17 min. The inter-day precision evaluated at the concentration of 50 ng/mL etizolam, α-hydroxyetizolam and 8-hydroxyetizolam was evaluated 8.6, 6.4 and 8.0% respectively. Linearity occurred over the range in 5–50 ng/mL. This method is satisfactory for clinical and forensic purposes. This method was applied to two unnatural death cases suspected to involve etizolam. Etizolam and its two metabolites were detected in these cases.