Route of drug administration may influence toxicological levels in the liver

Résumé fourni par la source

Postmortem toxicology is a contentious area and can be difficult to interpret without adequate history. Morley and Bolton1 have pointed out that the results of toxicological analysis from the liver may be incorrectly interpreted if the site of sampling is unknown. From recent casework, it has been drawn to our attention that drug levels in the liver may depend on the route of administration. Postmortem redistribution can result in the concentration of a drug in blood changing after death. When it is necessary to confirm that a potentially fatal level of a drug had been present at the time of death, analysis of the liver may be performed. In a recent case, it was found that the blood level of oxycodone was within the documented lethal range; however, the liver level was substantially lower than those previously reported in oxycodone deaths. An injection mark was present on the deceased and subsequent investigation revealed a syringe and spoon that had been present at the scene contained the drug. Hence, it was postulated that injection of the drug had resulted in liver levels that were lower than in cases …

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