Forensic toxicological analysis of etomidate abuse
10.13618/j.issn.1001-5728.2025.03.003
- VernacularTitle:依托咪酯滥用的法医毒物学分析
- Author:
Hua ZHOU
1
;
Jianjun XU
;
Xiaobin CHEN
;
Wenjun TAO
;
Yue XU
Author Information
1. 广东省惠州市公安司法鉴定中心,广东惠州 516000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Forensic toxicological analysis;
Etomidate;
Etomidate acid;
Drug abuse;
Cause of death analysis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Forensic Medicine
2025;40(3):278-283
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the forensic toxicological characteristics associated with etomidate abuse.Methods Blood and urine samples from six cases of etomidate abuse were quantitatively analyzed for etomidate and its metabolite etomidate acid.Relevant literature on etomidate abuse and poisoning was reviewed to summarize the pharmacological and toxicological effects of etomidate and case data.Results In the cases examined,the blood concentrations of etomidate and its metabolite,etomidate acid,were relatively low,ranging from 1.97～187.61 ng/mL and 12.29～316.31 ng/mL,respectively.Urine samples offered a broader detection window,with etomidate concentrations ranging from 1.65 to 700.89 ng/mL and etomidate acid concentrations from 295.26～214 483.52 ng/mL.Notably,in a sexual assault case,the victims's blood concentration of etomidate acid dropped below 6.98 ng/mL eight hours post-ingestion,while urinary concentration was still above 59 449.02 ng/mL.Conclusion Abuse of electronic cigarettes containing etomidate can result in severe overdoses.Given that etomidate is rapidly metabolized in vivo,it is essential to collect and analyze biological samples promptly,with a particular emphasis on detecting its metabolite,etomidate acid.
