Diagnóstico químico-toxicológico del consumo de cocaína en humanos

Abstract

Cocaine (COC) is one of the most powerful natural central nervous system stimulant. This compound is found in the leaves of Erythroxylon coca, and has been widely utilized in medicine as a local anesthetic and by drug abusers since many years ago. COC is rapidly metabolized in the body by chemical or through an enzymatic hydrolysis of one or both of the ester linkages, and its concentration in urine samples usually does not exceed its principal metabolite, benzoylecgonine (consider as metabolite marker). COC and its main metabolites concentrations observed in urine samples from abusers and from victims the drug overdoses vary greatly depending on the dosage, route of administration, drug presentation form, metabolism, time of sampling and manner of storage of the specimens. In the present work some of the most important factors related to the chemical toxicology diagnostic of COC consumption in humans are discussed. This review concluded that there are many factors to consider in order to make a
comprehensive interpretation of the COC and its metabolites levels in urine samples. These levels only indicate the presence or absence of the drug and it cannot support any interpretation such as to the amount of drug taken, time it was taken, or the absence or presence of impairment. COC concentrations found in urine samples from intoxicated people may be between not detected levels to 5 g/mL and from cases of death between not detected levels to 140 g/mL. Another important fact is that benzoylecgonine concentrations in urine samples are not always greater than those of the ecgonine methylester, its second important metabolite.