Enzymic hydrolysis of tissues before XAD-2 extraction in poisoning cases

Samples of blood, liver and brain taken from 13 cases of fatal poisoning with barbiturates, antidepressants, phenothiazines and anticonvulsants were digested with trypsin and β-glucuronidase. The concentrations of drugs were higher in hydrolyzed livers in barbiturate and phenothiazine poisonings. In the case of diazepam, phenytoin, carbamazepine, amitriptyline, imipramine and chloroprothixene poisonings the results obtained after enzymic hydrolysis were the same or worse than in controls. The blood levels of drugs in non-fatal poisonings with diazepam, doxepin and chlorpromazine were similar in samples digested with trypsin and in controls. All samples were extracted with Amberlite XAD-2 resin by XAD-2 Bag technique.