Key result
Postmortem blood concentrations of desethylamiodarone, digoxin, flecainide, and sotalol were higher than antemortem serum levels, demonstrating hazards in interpreting postmortem drug levels.
Why the study?
Are there differences in antiarrhythmic drug concentrations between antemortem serum and postmortem blood?
Population
18-year-old male with congenital heart disease who developed a fatal arrhythmia (n=1)
Comparison
Measurement of amiodarone/desethylamiodarone… vs Measurement of the same drug concentrations in…
Design
Case_report
Authors
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Postmortem antiarrhythmic levels warrant cautious forensic interpretation; leaves open generalizability of redistribution effects beyond this case.
Case Report (n=1)
Are there differences in antiarrhythmic drug concentrations between antemortem serum and postmortem blood?
Postmortem blood concentrations of several antiarrhythmic drugs can be falsely elevated compared to antemortem levels, highlighting the hazards of interpreting postmortem drug toxicity.
O'Sullivan et al. (1995) conducted a case report in Congenital heart disease with fatal arrhythmia (n=1). Postmortem blood sampling vs. Antemortem serum sampling was evaluated on Drug concentrations of amiodarone/desethylamiodarone, digoxin, flecainide and sotalol. Postmortem blood concentrations of desethylamiodarone, digoxin, flecainide, and sotalol were higher than antemortem serum levels, demonstrating hazards in interpreting postmortem drug levels.
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