Study of the ratio between morphine-3-β-D-glucuronide and morphine-6-β-Dglucuronide in blood samples from heroin fatalities
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2015
Citazione:
Study of the ratio between morphine-3-β-D-glucuronide and morphine-6-β-Dglucuronide in blood samples from heroin fatalities / R. Froldi, K. Guerrini, A. Argo, M. Cippitelli, L. Dell'Acqua, F. Farè, P. Procaccianti, G. Roda, C. Rusconi, G.L. Visconti, L. Ferrante, V. Gambaro. - In: JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL & BIOANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES. - ISSN 2155-9872. - 6:2(2015 Apr 14), pp. 1000240.1-1000240.7. [10.4172/2155-9872.1000240]
Abstract:
In heroin fatalities the diagnosis of the cause of death, based only on chemical and toxicological data, may be
particularly difficult; a complete knowledge of the case history is fundamental. Thus, for each case analytical results
should be interpreted taking into account also autopsy findings, information from the scene and relevant medical
history. In fact wide variability is present in post-mortem blood concentration of morphine (MOR), the main
metabolite of heroin, which is usually the most important analytical result for the interpretation of the cause of death.
Recently, increasing interest has grown towards the role of the metabolites morphine-3-β-D-glucuronide (M3G) and
morphine-6-β-D-glucuronide (M6G) in mediating heroin effects. To this purpose SPE technique was employed to
extract MOR, M3G and M6G from autopsy blood samples. Subsequently a LC/MS-MS method for the determination
of these analytes was developed, using a gradient elution with a binary mobile phase, the analytes being revealed
by means of an ESI-QqQ Mass Spectrometer operating in positive ionization and MRM mode. After validation, the
method was applied to twenty-one blood specimens collected from cases of suspected acute narcotism which
previously underwent a Systematic Toxicological Analysis (STA) to highlight the presence of ethanol and of the main
drugs of abuse and/or their metabolites. The concentration ratios of MOR, M3G and M6G were investigated. The
influence of some risk factors, such as the contemporary use of alcohol, methadone or cocaine, was also studied.
Some important indications emerged: the ratio M3G/M6G, being quite constant, should be a valid reference value to
assess toxicity. Furthermore the value of M3G/M6G ratio detected in heroin addict, in this study, is lower than that
found in people who assume morphine for therapeutic purposes. This ratio could be of help to overcome the difficult
interpretation of chemical and toxicological data.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Morphine; Morphine-3-β-D-glucuronide; Morphine-6-β-D-glucuronide; Heroin fatalities; LC-MS; Autopsy blood
Elenco autori:
R. Froldi, K. Guerrini, A. Argo, M. Cippitelli, L. Dell'Acqua, F. Farè, P. Procaccianti, G. Roda, C. Rusconi, G.L. Visconti, L. Ferrante, V. Gambaro
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