Site dependence of methamphetamine concentrations in blood samples collected from cadavers of people who had been methamphetamine abusers

Various blood samples were collected from heart cavities and blood vessels in eight autopsy cases of people who had been methamphetamine abusers. Methamphetamine and its metabolite, amphetamine, were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring. In four cases where left and right heart blood samples were collected, methamphetamine concentrations in the left heart blood samples were 1.9-2.6 times higher than those in the right heart blood samples. In three cases where pulmonary vein blood samples were collected, methamphetamine concentrations in the pulmonary vein blood samples were higher than those in other blood samples sites. To interpret the blood methamphetamine concentrations, site dependence should be taken into consideration. Language: en