Methamphetamine—A Study of Postmortem Redistribution

• Published in: Journal of analytical toxicology Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 69 - 70
• Main Authors: Barnhart, F.E., Fogacci, J.R., Reed, D.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.01.1999
• Subjects: Amphetamine - analysis; Cadaver; Humans; Methamphetamine - analysis; Tissue Distribution
• ISSN: 0146-4760; 1945-2403
• DOI: 10.1093/jat/23.1.69

San Diego County is commonly referred to as "The Methamphetamine Capital of the World". Our laboratory encounters hundreds of cases involving methamphetamine annually. We studied the process of postmortem redistribution as it relates to methamphetamine. All analyses were performed using liquid-liquid isolation, derivatization, and detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). As part of the study, we selected 20 cases at random and analyzed peripheral as well as central heart blood. In addition, we also analyzed heart tissue in five cases. In all cases, the central heart blood was higher than the peripheral blood. In the five cases where heart tissue was also analyzed, its value closely approximated that of the central blood. This phenomenon correlates with the cardiotoxic aspects of methamphetamine. The results suggest that interpretation of methamphetamine levels in either cause of death or behavioral modification requires the toxicologist to analyze peripheral blood samples.