Heninger Michael, Collins Kim A
Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, 430 Pryor Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30312, USA.
J Forensic Sci. 2013 Jul;58(4):1088-91. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.12176. Epub 2013 Apr 18.
Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that can adversely affect the central nervous system and the immune system. Through various mechanisms, methamphetamine is toxic to neurons, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and macrophages resulting in systemic damage. Reported is the sudden demise of an otherwise healthy 31-year-old woman with a history of stimulant abuse. At autopsy, acute bacterial meningitis was identified. Microbiology cultures grew a single isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Toxicology was positive for amphetamine (0.13 mg/L) and methamphetamine (0.8 mg/L). The cause of death was classified as acute bacterial meningitis with methamphetamine use. Either the acute bacterial meningitis or the methamphetamine toxicity would have been sufficient to result in death; however, the concurrent pathophysiology of the two entities must be understood. A review of the current literature assesses the mechanisms of injury attributed to acute and chronic methamphetamine use, bacterial meningitis, and the synergy between the two.
甲基苯丙胺是一种合成兴奋剂，会对中枢神经系统和免疫系统产生不利影响。通过各种机制，甲基苯丙胺对神经元、内皮细胞、淋巴细胞、粒细胞和巨噬细胞有毒性，导致全身损害。据报道，一名31岁有兴奋剂滥用史的健康女性突然死亡。尸检时，发现患有急性细菌性脑膜炎。微生物培养物培养出单一的肺炎链球菌分离株。毒理学检测显示苯丙胺（0.13毫克/升）和甲基苯丙胺（0.8毫克/升）呈阳性。死亡原因被归类为使用甲基苯丙胺导致的急性细菌性脑膜炎。急性细菌性脑膜炎或甲基苯丙胺毒性中的任何一种都足以导致死亡；然而，必须了解这两种情况同时存在的病理生理机制。对当前文献的综述评估了急性和慢性使用甲基苯丙胺、细菌性脑膜炎以及两者之间协同作用所导致的损伤机制。
