Acute Benztropine Intoxication and Fatality.

Acute Benztropine Intoxication and Fatality. J Forensic Sci. 2014 Apr 3; Authors: McIntyre IM, Mallett P, Burton CG, Morhaime J Abstract A woman was found unresponsive with an empty bottle of Cogentin(®) prescribed to another. Admitted to an area hospital, her condition steadily declined until death 29 h after admission. Following toxicological screening on hospital (admission) whole blood, the only significant compound detected was benztropine. Benztropine was confirmed at 0.28 mg/L - the highest antemortem blood concentration recorded in a case of toxicity or fatality uniquely associated with benztropine. A second serum antemortem specimen showed a benztropine concentration of 0.19 mg/L. Despite over 24 h in the hospital, benztropine was also found in the postmortem specimens collected at autopsy. Peripheral blood, central blood, liver, and gastric concentrations were 0.47 mg/L, 0.36 mg/L, 9.6 mg/kg, and 44 mg, respectively. These results indicate that benztropine exhibited a potential difference between whole-blood and serum (plasma) concentrations. Additionally, in consideration of literature data, benztropine was found indicative of a compound prone to at least some postmortem redistribution. PMID: 24697166 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tags: J Forensic Sci Source Type: research