QUININE CARDIOTOXICITY - A MECHANISM FOR SUDDEN DEATH IN NARCOTIC ADDICTS

• NCJ Number: 11672
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1973) Pages: 167-172
• Author(s): L H LEVINE; C S HIRSCH
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: American Soc for Testing and Materials
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTRATION OF THE CARDIOTOXIC EFFECTS OF RAPIDLY ADMINISTERED, INTRAVENOUS INJECTIONS OF QUININE HYDROCHLORIDE IN RATS.

Abstract

IT WAS SHOWN THAT RATS SUFFER SLOWING AND CESSATION OF THE HEARTBEAT WITHIN SECONDS FOLLOWING RAPID INTRAVENOUS ADMINISTRATION OF QUININE HYDROCHLORIDE. HYPERACUTE DEATH DUE TO INTRAVENOUS NARCOTISM IS DEFINED AS IMMEDIATE COLLAPSE FOLLOWED BY DEATH WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF AN ILLICIT NARCOTIC. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT THEIR INVESTIGATION INCRIMINATES THE CARDIOTOXIC PROPERTIES OF QUININE AS ONE OF THE MECHANISMS WHICH MAY PRECIPITATE SUCH HYPERACUTE DEATHS, SINCE QUININE IS USED COMMONLY AS AN ADULTERANT FOR ILLICIT NARCOTICS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)