Systematic forensic identification of a homicide by brodifacoum poisoning: A case report

Abstract

Brodifacoum, a long-acting anticoagulant rodenticide, exerts inhibitory effects on blood coagulation factor synthesis, leading to abnormal clotting function and potential fatality. Poisoning of accidental exposure to brodifacoum is not rare, but death from brodifacoum poisoning can be largely avoided with timely and long-term effective treatments, consequently, forensic data on fatalities due to brodifacoum poisoning may be limited. This paper presents a case of brodifacoum-induced homicide, detailing the medial records and pathological changes observed in multiple organs. Furthermore, t liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to measure the concentrations of brodifacoum in blood, hydropericardium, and urine 40 days post-poisoning (1 day post-mortem), yielding values of 0.097 μg/mL, 0.089 μg/mL, and 0.007 μg/mL respectively. The aim of this article is to contribute towards forensic identification of fatalities resulting from brodifacoum poisoning while also serving as a reference for clinical diagnosis in similar cases.