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 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 42-year-old male known drug user |
| Citations | 5 |
| Key findings | 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.