Mephedrone related fatalities: a review.

摘要: OBJECTIVE: Synthetic cathinones are an emerging class of designer drugs abused due to their psychostimulant and hallucinogenic effects, similar those cocaine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), amphetamines methamphetamines. Mephedrone is a cathinone analogue (4-methyl aromatic methcathinone) that was reported be implicated in several fatalities the media across Europe, but only few have actually resulted mephedrone cited as cause death. In this paper, we aim systematically review analytically confirmed cases mephedrone-related fatalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant scientific articles were identified from Medline, Cochrane Central, Scopus, Web Science, Science Direct, EMBASE Google Scholar, through May 2015 using following keywords: "Mephedrone", "fatal intoxication," "fatalities", "acute intoxication" "death". RESULTS: total, 10 citations met criteria for inclusion, representing 18 fatal with biological sample/s deceased. The death attributed intoxication 9 (range post-mortem blood concentration: 1.33-22 mg/L), whereas multiple drug toxicity, involving 6 0.04-1.3 mg/L). CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest abuse remains public health issue. appears rather narrow therapeutic window makes its use dangerous. Dosages which supposedly fall within recreational limits could also lead when combined other certain circumstances. Forensic Toxicology laboratories must assess testing procedures ensure they can achieve both appropriate screening regime targeted quantitative analysis detection various matrices. Language: en