• Trista H Wright, Karen Cline-Parhamovich, Dawn Lajoie, Laura Parsons, Mark Dunn, and Kenneth E Ferslew.
• Toxicology, William L. Jenkins Forensic Center, East Tennessee State University, PO Box 70422, Johnson City, TN.
• J. Forensic Sci. 2013 Nov 1; 58 (6): 1558-62.

AbstractTwo deaths involving 3, 4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) are reported. MDPV is a synthetic cathinone stimulant found in "bath salts" with neurological and cardiovascular toxicity. Biological specimens were analyzed for MDPV by GC/MS and LC/MS. A White man was found dead with signs of nausea and vomiting after repeatedly abusing bath salts during a weekend binge. Femoral venous blood and urine had MDPV concentrations of 39 ng/mL and 760 ng/mL. The second fatality was a White man with a history of drug and bath salt abuse found dead at a scene in total disarray after exhibiting fits of anger and psychotic behavior. Femoral venous blood and urine had MDPV concentrations of 130 ng/mL and 3800 ng/mL. The blood and urine MDPV concentrations are within the reported recreational concentration ranges (blood 24-241 ng/mL and urine 34-3900 ng/mL). Both decedents' deaths were attributed to relevant natural causes in a setting of MDPV abuse.© 2013 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

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