[Application of HPLC/MS for evaluation of fatal poisoning with digoxin in the aspect of medico-legal evidence].

This paper presents a case of suicidal poisoning of a woman with digoxin administered by injection. The autopsy of the subject was performed in the Institute of Forensic Medicine CMUJ. Body fluids (blood, urine, perylimph) and tissues (kidney, liver, brain) were collected for toxicological investigation. Digoxin determination was carried out by means of high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) which revealed digoxin in extremely high concentrations in specimens examined. The method is especially useful for analysis of cardiac glycosides in fatal poisonings for medicolegal purposes. Language: pl