Detection of thiocyanate in postmortem blood of a fatal potassium thiocyanate-poisoning patient using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Minji KangSungmin MoonByungjoo KimSo-Hyun KimJunghyun KimHeejin ParkHyeyoung ChoiSeongho KimMeejung ParkPublished in: Journal of analytical toxicology (2023)
Thiocyanate is an inorganic compound used in industrial applications. Here, we report a case of suicidal death due to acute thiocyanate overdose. A 44-year-old man who consumed an unknown amount of thiocyanate solution was transferred to the emergency room and died two hours after admission. An autopsy was performed two days after death. General toxicological analysis of blood using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry found no drug or alcohol. Quantification using GC-MS post-derivatization with pentafluorobenzyl bromide revealed 2,290 and 1,920 mg/L of thiocyanate in the heart and femoral blood samples, respectively. Thus, the cause of death was attributed to thiocyanate overdose. This study provides useful information for the interpretation of thiocyanate-related fatalities.
Keyphrases
- gas chromatography mass spectrometry
- liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
- solid phase extraction
- simultaneous determination
- emergency department
- gas chromatography
- healthcare
- ms ms
- high performance liquid chromatography
- public health
- heavy metals
- single cell
- mass spectrometry
- high resolution
- drug induced
- case report
- risk assessment
- sensitive detection
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- loop mediated isothermal amplification
- aortic dissection
- tandem mass spectrometry
- social media
- mechanical ventilation