IDENTIFICATION OF UNIQUE COCAINE METABOLITES AND SMOKING BY-PRODUCTS IN POSTMORTEM BLOOD AND URINE SPECIMENS

Toxicological investigation of suspected cocaine-related deaths routin ely involves the identification of cocaine (COG) and its metabolites i ncluding benzoylecgonine (BE) and ecgonine methyl ester (EME) in postm ortem specimens. We utilized solid-phase extraction followed by gas ch romatography/mass spectrometry for the qualitative and quantitative an alysis of cocaine and eight cocaine-related analytes. These analytes i ncluded anhydroecgonine methyl ester (AEME), a unique product formed d uring cocaine smoking, and cocaethylene (CE), formed by transesterific ation of cocaine in the presence of ethanol. Thirteen pairs of postmor tem heart blood and urine specimens were analyzed from cases of death due to acute cocaine intoxication, multiple drug intoxication, or othe r non-dug related causes. COG, EME, and BE were detected in all specim ens. The range of concentrations in blood were: COG, 23-2088 ng/mL; BE , 215-9195 ng/mL; and EME, 220-7275 ng/mL. AEME was identified in 2 bl ood and 10 urine specimens, and CE was identified in 1 blood specimen and 4 urine specimens. The identification of AEME in the specimens ind icated that ''crack'' cocaine had been smoked, and the presence of CE indicated coadministration of cocaine and ethanol. The presence of the se unique cocaine analytes in postmortem specimens provides valuable i nformation regarding the cause and manner of death.