LETHAL MONOINTOXICATION BY OVERDOSAGE OF MDEA

A 19-year-old man died after the intake of ten tablets of Ecstasy cont aining 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (MDEA) as the main active ingredient. According to an eyewitness the symptoms of intoxication w ere strong sweating, sudden aggressiveness followed by hallucinations, subsequent failure of motoric coordination, severe spasms of arms and back, complete depression of the respiratory system, unconsciousness, and collapse. Resuscitation by an emergency doctor failed. Major auto psy findings were seven vascular congestion of all internal organs, li quid post-mortem blood, numerous subpleural and subepicardial petechia l haemorrhages. By GC/MS analysis, MDEA was found in large amounts in serum (12 mg/l in femoral vein, 22 mg/l in heart blood serum), urine ( 201 mg/l), brain (18 to 28 mg/l) and in other tissue samples. Scalp-ha ir was highly positive for MDEA (17 ng/mg), Besides MDEA and its metab olites only trace amounts of MDMA could be found in urine and blood; n o other drugs were detected. It can be concluded that the cause of dea th was a monointoxication by overdosage of MDEA. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd.