K. Yonemitsu et Dj. Pounder, POSTMORTEM CHANGES IN BLOOD TRANYLCYPROMINE CONCENTRATION - COMPETINGREDISTRIBUTION AND DEGRADATION EFFECTS, Forensic science international, 59(2), 1993, pp. 177-184
Site and temporal changes in tranylcypromine (TCP) and lithium concent
rations in blood were studied in a human poisoning case. Blood samples
from peripheral vessels and six central vessels were obtained at 0, 6
, 24, 48 and 72 h after starting the autopsy. Nine tissue samples were
obtained on completion. TCP showed preferential concentration in live
r (2.21 mug/g) and brainstem (2.46 mug/g). There was a moderate post m
ortem redistribution phenomenon with TCP concentrations lowest in peri
pheral blood (0. 17 mug/m1) at 0 h and highest in central vessels at 2
4 h (0.52 mug/ml). At 72 h blood TCP concentrations fell below those a
t 0 time but the samples showed marked putrefactive changes. Control b
lood samples spiked with TCP and incubated for 48 h at 37-degrees-C sh
owed a 58% fall in drug concentration. By contrast with TCP, lithium,
which has a small Vd (0.8 1/kg) and is chemically stable, did not show
this pattern of change in blood concentration. The site and temporal
differences in TCP concentration in blood can be explained by the comp
eting effects of post mortem redistribution and drug degradation. Redi
stribution is an early post mortem phenomenon characterised by diffusi
on, along a concentration gradient, from drug reservoirs in solid orga
ns into adjacent blood vessels. Drug degradation is a later phenomenon
associated with putrefactive change.