Case report of a fatal 3-hydroxyphencyclidine intoxication, including blood and hair results.
Alice Ameline, Morgane Baudry, Delphine Garnier, Jean-Sébastien Raul, Pascal Kintz
Journal of analytical toxicology July 22, 2023 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkad031 via PubMed
Summary
A 38-year-old man with a history of drug addiction was found dead at home with two bags of powder. Toxicological analysis of his blood detected 3-hydroxyphencyclidine (3-OH-PCP) at 524 ng/mL, the highest concentration ever reported in the literature. Other drugs found in his blood included nordiazepam, methylphenidate, amisulpride, methadone, and benzoylecgonine at levels typical of recreational abuse. Hair testing showed 3-OH-PCP at 174 pg/mg, suggesting chronic use. Analysis of the powders identified 3-OH-PCP and 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine with purities of 85.4% and 91.3%, respectively. 3-OH-PCP is a derivative of phencyclidine that acts on the NMDA receptor with higher affinity than phencyclidine.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A 38-year-old man with drug addiction |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | The blood concentration of 3-OH-PCP (524 ng/mL) is the highest ever reported in the literature. |
Abstract
3-Hydroxyphencyclidine (3-OH-PCP) is a hydroxy derivative of phencyclidine, synthesized in 1978 to investigate the structure-activity relationship of phencyclidine derivates. In vitro studies have shown that 3-OH-PCP, like phencyclidine, acts on the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and has a higher affinity for this receptor than phencyclidine. The authors report the case of a 38-year-old man, known for drug addiction, found dead at home with two plastic bags of powders found near his body. Using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, peripheral blood toxicological analysis revealed consumption of 3-OH-PCP with a concentration of 3-OH-PCP being 524 ng/mL. Blood also tested positive for nordiazepam, methylphenidate, amisulpride, methadone and benzoylecgonine, all at concentrations near those observed after recreational abuse. The blood concentration of 3-OH-PCP is the highest ever reported in the literature. Hair testing also revealed 3-OH-PCP, at 174 pg/mg, which may correspond to a chronic consumption of this molecule. A nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the two powders highlighted 3-OH-PCP and 5-methoxy-dimethyltryptamine, estimated to have a purity of 85.4 and 91.3%, respectively, using the Electronic Reference To access In vivo Concentrations method.