Involvement of amphetamines in sudden and unexpected death.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_1A590683FBFE
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Involvement of amphetamines in sudden and unexpected death.
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences
Author(s)
Pilgrim J.L., Gerostamoulos D., Drummer O.H., Bollmann M.
ISSN
1556-4029[electronic]
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2009
Volume
54
Number
2
Pages
478-485
Language
english
Abstract
In the present study, the effects of amphetamine-class drugs were examined in cases reported to the Victorian coroner from 2001 to 2005 to determine if death can occur from the use of amphetamine-class drugs alone. A total of 169 cases were reviewed where a forensic autopsy detected amphetamine(s) in the blood. Pathology, toxicology, and police reports were analyzed in all cases to ascertain the involvement of amphetamine-class drugs in these deaths. In Victoria, methamphetamine (MA) is the principal abused amphetamine-class followed by methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). There were six cases in which a cerebral hemorrhage caused death and three cases in which serotonin syndrome was established as being caused by the interaction of MDMA and moclobemide. There were 19 cases in which long-term use of amphetamines was associated with heart disease. There were three cases where amphetamine-class drugs alone were regarded as the cause of death, of which two cases exhibited high levels of MDMA and lesser amounts of MA and/or amphetamine. There were no cases in which significant natural disease was absent and death was regarded as caused by the use of MA. There was no correlation between blood concentration of drug and outcome.
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
28/03/2009 10:46
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:51
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