Journal of Forensic Sciences 2008-07-01

Bromadiolone poisoning: LC-MS method and pharmacokinetic data.

Vigdis Vindenes, Ritva Karinen, Inger Hasvold, Jean-Paul Bernard, Jørg G Mørland, Asbjørg S Christophersen

Index: J. Forensic Sci. 53(4) , 993-6, (2008)

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Abstract

Poisoning with superwarfarins, like bromadiolone, is a growing public health problem, and the mortality is high. Pharmacokinetic data on bromadiolone in humans are however scarce, and there are no reports following repeated exposures to bromadiolone. We have developed a method for quantification of bromadiolone in whole blood, using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The analytical method is reported. Limit of detection was 0.005 mg/L and limit of quantification was 0.01 mg/L. The concentrations of bromadiolone in whole blood and plasma in serial samples from a 62-year-old woman were measured. The half-life of bromadiolone in blood was estimated to be about 6 days in the initial phase of elimination and about 10-13 days in the terminal phase. The mean plasma/blood ratio of bromadiolone was 1.7 +/- 0.6. Stability testing of bromadiolone in whole blood samples after two cycles of freeze and thaw revealed that bromadiolone concentrations decreased.