Study of postmortem redistribution of naproxen
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Authors
Vladez, Jr, Jose E.
Issue Date
2015
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Forensic sciences
Alternative Title
Abstract
The medical examiner may use autopsy toxicology results to assist in determining whether a drug was a cause or manner of death. Postmortem redistribution is the change in drug concentrations within the body after death. The propensity for postmortem redistribution was tested for naproxen, a therapeutic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The ratios of central/peripheral blood concentrations and liver/peripheral concentrations were compared in 20 medical examiner cases. The naproxen was extracted from the specimens and then was quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The central blood to peripheral blood ratios averaged 1.46 ± 0.59 (mean ± standard deviation) with a median value of 1.33, and the liver to peripheral blood ratios averaged 1.07 ± 0.66 with a median value of 0.95. With the liver to peripheral ratio being below 5, naproxen was found to have little to no propensity for postmortem redistribution.