0000000000744924
AUTHOR
Pouria Jarsiah
GHB related acids are useful in routine casework of suspected GHB intoxication cases
Abstract GHB related acids (3,4-dihydroxy butyric acid, 2,4-dihydroxy butyric acid and glycolic acid) are produced through oxidative GHB metabolism. These analytes could be potential biomarkers to ensure the diagnosis of a GHB intoxication and even prolong the detection window. Within this study, forensic routine cases were measured to consider the potential of additional gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis on these acids. 17 GHB positive real cases (10 serum samples and 7 urine samples) and 40 cases with suspicion of drugging in DFC cases and negative GHB results (21 serum samples and 19 urine samples) were evaluated. Increased GHB related acid concentrations were detected in a…
GHB related acids (dihydroxy butyric acids, glycolic acid) can help in the interpretation of post mortem GHB results.
Post mortem gamma hydroxy butyric acid (GHB) concentrations should be interpreted with caution since GHB concentrations can increase after death. Post mortem concentrations after the intake of GHB ante mortem do overlap with concentration ranges in cases without known exposure to GHB and make an interpretation challenging. GHB is known to undergo intensive metabolism to related acids (glycolic acid (GA), succinic acid (SA), 2,4- and 3,4-dihydroxy butyric acid (2,4-OH-BA and 3,4-OH-BA)). GHB and these related acids were analyzed using a validated gas chromatographic mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method after liquid liquid extraction and trimethylsilylation. SA concentrations were not usable pos…
Detection of γ‐hydroxybutyric acid‐related acids in blood plasma and urine: Extending the detection window of an exogenous γ‐hydroxybutyric acid intake?
In crimes facilitated by γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) administration, the frequent occurrence of anterograde amnesia of the victims as well as the short detection window and variations of endogenous GHB concentrations complicate obtaining analytical proof of GHB administration. Because elevated endogenous organic acid concentrations have been found in the urine of patients with succinic semialdehyde deficiency (leading to accumulation of GHB in human specimens) and after GHB ingestion, we searched for an alternative way to prove GHB administration via detection of elevated organic acid concentrations in blood plasma and urine. We collected blood and urine samples from narcolepsy patients (n …
Phase I metabolites (organic acids) of gamma‐hydroxybutyric acid–validated quantification using GC–MS and description of endogenous concentration ranges
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a sedative drug used in drug-facilitated crimes. Its detection window is very short. GHB undergoes intensive phase I metabolism to organic acids (glycolic acid, succinic acid, dihydroxybutyric acids). These could be potential analytical targets to broaden the detection window. The aim of the present study was to enable the detection of endogenous levels of these metabolites in biological samples (blood and urine). A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method using liquid-liquid extraction and derivatization with N-methyl-N-tri-methylsilyltrifluoracetamide was developed for the quantification. Validation results were consistent with international guideli…