= Discovery stage. (16.60%, 2024)
= Translation stage. (37.02%, 2024)
= Clinically available. (46.38%, 2024)
MSACL 2024 : Badea

MSACL 2024 Abstract

Self-Classified Topic Area(s): Small Molecule > Cases in Clinical Analysis > Tox / TDM / Endocrine

Podium Presentation in Steinbeck 1 on Thursday at 15:25 (Chair: Xander van Wijk / Michael Pikulski)

Clinical Utility of High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry in a Pediatric Case of Altered Mental Status

Adina Badea (1, 2)
(1)Lifespan, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI (2)The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI

Adina Badea, PhD, DABCC (Presenter)
Lifespan/Rhode Island Hospital & the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Presenter Bio: Dr. Adina Badea, PhD, DABCC, earned her BA in Chemistry from Wellesley College, and her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She completed her clinical chemistry and toxicology fellowship at UCSF, where she worked under the supervision of Dr. Alan Wu and Dr. Kara Lynch on developing methods and finding new solutions to current challenges in clinical toxicology testing. Currently, she is Director of Toxicology at Rhode Island Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, where she focuses on expanding the capabilities of the clinical toxicology lab using high resolution mass spectrometry. Her research interests include bringing state-of-the-art testing to the service of emergency medicine patients and to address public health crises with real-time comprehensive toxicology testing via collaborations with the local Poison Control Center and Department of Health.

Abstract

Case Description:

A 16-year-old male with a medical history of anxiety, ADHD, and multiple prior episodes of altered mental status (AMS) with no resolved etiology presents to the emergency department (ED) with AMS. He was in his baseline state at home, then went to school and was noted to exhibit extreme somnolence. He was unable to be woken up, and EMS was called. Of note, the patient had had two similar presentations to the ED over the previous two weeks. He received Narcan with no improvement. He was admitted to the neurology service and had an EEG that did not show epileptiform activity, similarly to his previous episodes when he was discharged home without any antiepileptic drugs. Other labs were unremarkable. A comprehensive drug screen was ordered and was unexpectedly positive for clozapine.

Background:

Extreme somnolence can be caused by an overdose or as a side effect of a variety of medications: antihistamines, antiemetics, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines and opioids to name a few. Adding to that sedatives like xylazine, a known contaminant of the illicit drug supply, along with non-toxic etiologies such as seizures and other neurological conditions, and the diagnosis of an AMS episode involving somnolence becomes more complex than what typical immunoassay drug screens can handle. Unintentional clozapine ingestions are rare. Clozapine is a second generation antipsychotic which has been used as an effective treatment alternative to traditional antipsychotics and has been deemed relatively safe in overdose. However, toxic effects in pediatric patients have been recorded and include hypersalivation, tachycardia, hypotension, sedation, delirium, leading to severe effects such as coma, respiratory depression, and even respiratory failure.

MS Method and Results:

A clinically validated comprehensive drug screen test using LC-QTOF-MS was used. The urine specimen was centrifuged to remove particulates, diluted with solvent and injected onto a SCIEX X500R platform. The untargeted data collection was performed using a positive-ion mode TOF-MS survey scan with IDA-triggered collection of high-resolution product ion spectra (20 dependent scans). The data was analyzed against an in-house validated library of 318 drugs and metabolites spanning multiple drug classes. The specimen was found positive for amphetamine, trazodone, citalopram (prescribed medications), naloxone, lorazepam (administered in the field and trauma room), and clozapine, an unexpected finding.

Discussion and Conclusion:

The patient's presentation was consistent with previously reported clozapine toxicity symptoms. However, the clozapine toxidrome includes many symptoms that are not all present concomitantly in exposed individuals. AMS in the form of extreme sedation can be attributed to other toxic agents as well as neurologic etiologies. This patient had alternative workups for this presentation in two other AMS episodes. Immunoassay drug screens were positive for amphetamine, known prescribed medication. Clozapine was not on the home medications list. Physicians and parents were notified of the comprehensive drug test result. The patient's older brother had been prescribed clozapine some months back, with discontinuation due to severe somnolence as a side effect. Patient denied taking clozapine intentionally. His symptoms improved with supportive care and the patient was discharged. Upon further investigation, the parents realized they mixed up medications and had given the patient the doses intended for his brother. Post correction, the patient's symptoms resolved permanently. Comprehensive drug testing by LC-QTOF-MS was the key to resolving this case. Had this test been employed in earlier episodes, rehospitalization of patient could have been prevented.


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