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Els A. de Letter

Ghent University

2 papers in the library · 115 citations · publishing 2000-2002

Papers

Determination of the Designer Drugs 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, 3,4-Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, and 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine with HPLC and Fluorescence Detection in Whole Blood, Serum, Vitreous Humor, and Urine

Clinical Chemistry December 1, 2000 Karine M. Clauwaert, Jan F. van Bocxlaer, Els A. de Letter et al. 68 citations

A method using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, accurately measures the designer drugs MDMA, MDEA, and their metabolite MDA in whole blood, serum, vitreous humor, and urine. The method is linear from 2 to 1000 μg/L for blood, serum, and vitreous humor, and from 0.1 to 5 mg/L for urine, with detection limits as low as 0.8 μg/L. Extraction recoveries exceed 70%, and imprecision ranges from 2.5% to 19%. In a rabbit thanatochemical distribution study, serum MDMA concentrations ranged from 5.3 to 685 μg/L, and whole blood MDMA from 19.7 to 710 μg/L. For routine toxicology urine samples, MDMA concentrations reached up to 157 mg/L.

Distribution Study of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine and 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine in a Fatal Overdose

Journal of Analytical Toxicology March 1, 2002 Els A. de Letter, Karine M. Clauwaert, Willy E. Lambert et al. 47 citations

In a fatal overdose of MDMA (ecstasy) and its metabolite MDA, concentrations varied widely across different body sites. Central blood samples (heart and great vessels) showed different levels than peripheral blood (subclavian and femoral). High levels were found in liver, lungs, and kidneys, while vitreous humor also contained MDMA, suggesting it could be used when blood is unavailable. The findings confirm that peripheral vein blood is best for accurate measurement, and that postmortem redistribution must be considered when interpreting toxicology results from other sites.