A case of suicide by ingestion of sodium nitroprusside

The study reports, a case of suicide by ingestion of sodium nitroprusside w hich resulted in acute cyanide poisoning. Analyses carried out on body flui d yielded the quantitation of total (5.00 mg/L) and free (3.30 mg/L: cyanid e in blood; and of methemoglobin (blood = 10.5%). At the scene, some solid reddish-brown material was found in a glass, which on toxicological analysi s was found to contain sodium nitroprusside; about 9 g of the same substanc e was identified in stomach contents. The detection and quantification of c yanide and methemoglobin in biological samples from the case indicated that the lethal effect was due to both metabolic products (cyanide and methemog lobin).