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Papaseit E, Olesti E, de la Torre R, Torrens M, Farré M.
“Mephedrone Concentrations in Cases of Clinical Intoxication”.
Curr Pharm Des. 2017 Jul 05.
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Abstract
Abstract
Background Mephedrone (4-methylmethcathinone, 4-MMC), a ring-substituted synthetic cathinone derivative has become established as a permanent illicit drug in the dynamic new psychoactive substances (NPS) scene. Objective This review summarizes current knowledge on mephedrone concentrations in biological samples from cases of acute intoxications (fatal and non-fatal), pharmacokinetics studies, wastewater and anonymous pooled urine analysis in order to provide an overview of the reliable scientific knowledge on toxicokinetics of mephedrone in humans. Method The PubMed® database complemented with Google Scholar® was systematically searched to find published cases of mephedrone intoxications. The searches were done using the keyword mephedrone OR 4-methylmethcathinone in association to each of the following strategies: i) intoxication OR poisoning; ii) (blood OR serum OR plasma) OR urine OR (saliva OR oral fluid) OR hair; iii) forensic toxicology samples; iv) wastewater OR sewage OR pooled urine and v) toxicity OR death OR fatal. Results Since 2010, a total of 97 fatal cases and 57 non-fatal intoxication cases were identified that presented mephedrone concentrations in human biological matrices attributed directly or indirectly to mephedrone. Typical subjects involved were young male with concomitant use of other drugs (psychostimulants, cannabis, alcohol and other depressants). Mephedrone mean blood concentration from fatal cases was 2,663 ng/mL (range 51-22,000 ng/mL), from non-fatal cases was 166 ng/mL (range, 13-412 ng/mL), that resulted in a similar range from data found in controlled studies with no acute toxicity associated (135 ng/mL, range 52-218 ng/mL). Forensic epidemiology studies based on wastewater and anonymous pooled urine analysis point towards similar variations in use (nightclub scene) to those self-reported in surveys and questioners. Conclusion Mephedrone blood concentrations in cases of fatal intoxications were higher than in non-fatal cases. In both cases, great variability in mephedrone concentration potentially attributable to interindividual differences in pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics and poly-drug use complicates the interpretation of the forensic toxicological analysis.
Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers
Key Words:
(4-methylmethcathinone; 4-MMC); anonymous pooled urine analysis ; fatalities; mephedrone; pharmacokinetics; toxicity; wastewater
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