Death Following Recreational Use of Designer Drug “Bath Salts” Containing 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)

• Published in: Journal of medical toxicology Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 69 - 75
• Main Authors: Murray, Brittany L., Murphy, Christine M., Beuhler, Michael C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01-03-2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acidosis; Adult; Benzodioxoles - poisoning; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain injury; Chemicals; Death; Deaths; Designer Drugs - poisoning; Drug use; Electrocardiography - drug effects; Fatal Outcome; Head injuries; Humans; Hyperthermia; Intoxication; Male; Mental disorders; Mortality; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pyrrolidines - poisoning; Recreational use; Rhabdomyolysis; Salts; Street Drugs - poisoning; Toxicology Observation; 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone; MDPV; Bath salts; Excited delirium syndrome; Designer drug
• ISSN: 1556-9039; 1937-6995
• DOI: 10.1007/s13181-011-0196-9

Introduction
3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a designer stimulant drug that has gained popularity in the USA. Although adverse effects of MDPV have been described, to our knowledge, this is the first reported death.
Case Report
We report the case of a 40-year-old male who injected and snorted “bath salts” containing MDPV and subsequently became agitated, aggressive, and experienced a cardiac arrest. He was resuscitated after his initial arrest; however, he developed hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, coagulopathy, acidosis, anoxic brain injury, and subsequently died.
Discussion
This is the first case in the medical literature to report death due to isolated confirmed MDPV intoxication. The manner of death is also consistent with excited delirium syndrome.