Toxicological findings in a fatal case of acebutolol self-poisoning

A fatal case of acebutolol self-poisoning is presented. After single-step liquid-liquid alkaline extraction, acebutolol was identified by using an HPLC/DAD screening procedure. By means of a specific HPLC method, acebutolol was then quantified in a large range of postmortem samples. The blood acebutolol concentration was 34.7 micrograms/mL. The tissue distribution of the drug is discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Toxicological findings after fatal amitriptyline self-poisoning

A case of fatal self-poisoning with amitriptyline is reported. Both the drug and its metabolite nortriptyline were quantified in several post-mortem tissues and fluids, including vitreous humor. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Fatal chloroquine self-poisoning

High performance liquid chromatography was employed to quantify chloroquine in biological fluids and tissues in a death attributed to chloroquine overdose. The blood concentration of chloroquine was 16.71 mg/l. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.