CASE REPORT: Application of LC?MS Analysis to a Colchicine Fatality

Authors: Jones G.R.; Singer P.P.; Bannach B.

Source: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Volume 26, Number 6, September 2002 , pp. 365-369(5)

Publisher: Preston Publications

Abstract:

A 73-year-old man developed nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea 20?30 min after receiving a 1.0 mg intravenous dose of colchicine for the treatment of severe pain due to gouty arthritis in his physician's office. He was hospitalized 8 h later, and his condition deteriorated as he developed renal and respiratory failure. He subsequently died 10 h later, or a total of 18 h after he received the original 1 mg colchicine injection. The patient received a prescription for oral 0.6 mg colchicine tablets 8 days previously and consumed eight tablets during that period, an average of 0.6 mg/day (42 of 50 tablets remained at the time of death). Colchicine concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry in selected ion monitoring mode using positive ionization. Chromatography was performed using an Eclipse XDB C8 analytical column (30 mm x 2.1-mm i.d., 3–m particle size) and a programmed mobile phase consisting of 50mM pH 4 ammonium acetate buffer and acetonitrile. Colchicine concentrations were as follows: 50 g/L in cardiac blood, 10 g/L in vitreous humor, 575 g/kg in liver, 12,000 g/L in bile, and 4.4 g in 60 g received gastric contents (estimated total gastric contents 100 g). The cause of death was ruled to be "acute colchicine toxicity" and the manner of death "accidental."

Language: English

Document Type:

Affiliations: 1: Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, 7007 - 116 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6H 5R8

Publication date: 2002-09-01

• The Journal of Analytical Toxicology (JAT), established in 1977 and published 9 times a year, is the international source covering a broad range of clinical, forensic, and industrial laboratory topics regarding the isolation, identification, and quantitation of potentially toxic substances.

  With an emphasis on practical application, JAT articles provide improved and novel techniques for use in clinical, forensic, workplace, sports testing (doping), and other toxicology laboratories. Articles describe newly developed methods in immunoassay testing, gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, solid and liquid phase extraction techniques, and other analytical approaches. Worldwide readership includes toxicologists, pathologists, chemists, clinicians, researchers, and educators working in medical examiner and law enforcement laboratories, hospitals, university and independent analytical laboratories, as well as the drug manufacturing industry.

  Each year in October, we publish a special issue from the Society of Forensic Toxicologists.

  JAT, as determined by ISI Citation Index, is one of the two most referenced international journals in forensic science.

• Subscribe to this Title
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Ecology ,  Toxicology
• By this author: Jones G.R. ;  Singer P.P. ;  Bannach B.

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers