LC-MS/MS determination of bromperidol in biological matrices: Method validation and forensic application

In this paper, we describe a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method used to detect the antipsychotic drug bromperidol, in biological post-mortem fluids (urine, blood and vitreous humour). The method was used to investigate an unusual case of death which occurred after bromperidol ingestion. A 44 year-old woman arrived at the emergency department in cardiac arrest. Her sister reported that the woman had taken several drops of a medicine containing bromperidol. An autopsy was performed and the biological fluid samples were submitted to a full toxicological work-up first and then to the target analysis of bromperidol. The analytical results obtained from the biological fluids collected at autopsy supported the hypothesis of death due to bromperidol intoxication.