ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Page Count: 3

A Case of Suicide by Ingestion of Sodium Nitroprusside
Cacaci, C
medical examiner, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata,

Cingolani, M
Chief toxicologist, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Ancona, Ospedale Regionale,

Froldi, R
Full professor of Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata,

(Received 29 August 2000; accepted 25 January 2001)

Abstract

The study reports a case of suicide by ingestion of sodium nitroprusside which resulted in acute cyanide poisoning. Analyses carried out on body fluid yielded the quantitation of total (5.00 mg/L) and free (3.30 mg/L) cyanide in blood and of methemoglobin (blood = 10.5%). At the scene, some solid reddish-brown material was found in a glass, which on toxicological analysis was found to contain sodium nitroprusside; about 9 g of the same substance was identified in stomach contents. The detection and quantification of cyanide and methemoglobin in biological samples from the case indicated that the lethal effect was due to both metabolic products (cyanide and methemoglobin).

Keywords:
forensic science, forensic toxicology, nitroprusside poisoning, cyanide, methemoglobin

Paper ID: JFS15180J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS15180J
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