Introduction: The second largest group of new drugs monitored by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is synthetic cathinones. Substances that are controlled by the law are immediately replaced by new uncontrolled derivatives that cause constant and dynamic changes on the drug market. Some of the most recent synthetic cathinones that have appeared on the "legal highs" market are 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (3,4-MDPHP) and α-pyrrolidinohexanophenone (α-PHP).
Case history: A 21-year-old woman in the 36th week of pregnancy presented with psychomotor agitation. Fetal demise was demonstrated and a caesarean delivery performed.
Methods: The analyses were carried out by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The analytes were isolated from the biological material by liquid-liquid extraction with n-butyl chloride.
Results: 3,4-MDPHP and α-PHP were detected and quantified in both the fetus' and the mothers blood, as well as in the mothers urine samples. The determined concentrations of 3,4-MDPHP and α-PHP were, 76 ng/mL and 12 ng/mL in the fetal blood sample, 16 ng/mL and traces in the mothers blood, and 697 mg/mL and 136 ng/mL in the mothers urine, respectively.
Discussion: The presented case demonstrates that 3,4-MDPHP and α-PHP transfers from maternal blood to fetal blood. Blood concentrations of these compounds were higher in the fetus than in the mother. Based on the known effects of these substances and the patient's presentation and clinical course, it would seem that these substances contributed to the fetal death.
Conclusions: The detected substances transfer from maternal to fetal circulation, and synthetic cathinone blood concentration can be higher in the fetus than in the mother. This along with the fact immature metabolic ability makes a fetus more vulnerable to cathinones intoxication than adults.
Keywords: 3,4-MDPHP; LC–MS/MS; analysis; cathinones; concentrations; fetal death; intoxication; α-PHP.