National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia.
Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2020 Nov;58(11):1028-1033. doi: 10.1080/15563650.2020.1726378. Epub 2020 Feb 18.
Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has gained substantial popularity as an illicit recreational drug. The current study aimed to: (1) determine the characteristics and circumstances of death of all recorded cases of GHB-related death in Australia, 2001-2019; (2) determine the toxicology of cases; and (3) determine major organ pathology. Retrospective study of all Australian cases in which GHB was a mechanism contributory to death retrieved from the National Coronial Information System ( = 74). Information was collected on cause of death, demographics, circumstances of death, toxicology and major organ pathology. The mean age was 31.5 years and 70.3% were male. The predominant circumstance of death was accidental drug toxicity (79.7%), including five cases attributed to a combination of toxicity and natural disease. Other deaths were due to trauma (12.2%) and suicide (8.2%). The fatal incident overwhelmingly occurred in a home environment (82.4%). In all cases, GHB was consumed orally. The median GHB blood concentration was 210 mg/L (range 13-1350 mg/L), and was significantly higher in toxicity cases than others (258 vs. 98 mg/L, < .01). Other substances were present in 92.2%, most commonly psychostimulants (64.1%), hypnosedatives (28.2%) and alcohol (20.3%). Resuscitation was attempted in 20.3% of cases. Acute pneumonia (36.7%) and aspiration of vomitus (30.6%) were common. The typical case was a young male, who swallowed GHB and used it with other substances, most commonly at home. While acute drug toxicity was the most common cause of death, there was a substantial minority due to trauma or suicide.
γ-羟基丁酸（GHB）作为一种非法的娱乐性药物，已广受欢迎。本研究旨在：（1）确定 2001 年至 2019 年澳大利亚所有记录在案的 GHB 相关死亡病例的特征和死亡情况；（2）确定病例的毒理学情况；（3）确定主要器官的病理变化。从国家验尸官信息系统中检索了所有 GHB 是导致死亡的机制之一的澳大利亚病例（ = 74）进行回顾性研究。收集了死亡原因、人口统计学、死亡情况、毒理学和主要器官病理变化等信息。平均年龄为 31.5 岁，70.3%为男性。主要的死亡情况是意外药物毒性（79.7%），包括 5 例归因于毒性和自然疾病的综合作用。其他死亡是由创伤（12.2%）和自杀（8.2%）引起的。致命事件绝大多数发生在家庭环境中（82.4%）。在所有情况下，GHB 都是口服摄入的。GHB 血液浓度中位数为 210mg/L（范围 13-1350mg/L），毒性病例明显高于其他病例（258 比 98mg/L， < .01）。其他物质存在于 92.2%的病例中，最常见的是兴奋剂（64.1%）、催眠镇静剂（28.2%）和酒精（20.3%）。有 20.3%的病例尝试过复苏。急性肺炎（36.7%）和呕吐物吸入（30.6%）较为常见。典型病例是一名年轻男性，他吞下 GHB 并与其他物质一起使用，最常见的是在家里。虽然急性药物毒性是最常见的死亡原因，但也有相当一部分是由于创伤或自杀。
