Citation

Poklis A, Poklis JL, Trautman D, Treece C, Backer R, Harvey CM. J. Anal. Toxicol. 1998; 22(6): 537-540.

Affiliation

Department of Pathology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0165, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Preston Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9788531

Abstract

The case history and toxicological findings of a fatal suicidal valproic acid overdose are presented. Valproic acid concentrations were determined in body tissues and fluids by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) following both direct extraction and the method of standards addition and quantitative fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The quantitative results obtained by the three procedures were in good agreement. Qualitative identification of valproic acid as its methylated derivative was by ion-trap gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Toxicological analysis by direct extraction GLC yielded the following valproate concentrations (mg/mL or mg/kg): blood, 1050; bile, 713; brain, 510; heart, 670; kidney, 1580; liver, 985; and vitreous, 516. A total of 15.1 g of valproate was recovered in the stomach contents. These findings far exceed those associated with valproate therapy and are similar to the limited valproate disposition data reported in prior fatal overdoses.

Language: en