A comparison of three computer models for prediction of dose in acute amitriptyline overdose |
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Authors: | G Wimbish J Shores V Spiehler |
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Institution: | Institute of Forensic Medicine, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Worth. |
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Abstract: | The pharmacokinetics of amitriptyline in overdose have been reported not to fit conventional compartmental models. In this study, the dose-concentration-time relationships of amitriptyline in overdose were modeled with discriminant analysis, with an evolutionary heuristic search program, and with a decision-tree model based on the entropy of uncertainty of classification. The computer models all used the same data from dogs administered treatment (80 mg/kg), toxic (250 mg/kg), or fatal (500 mg/kg) doses directly into the surgically isolated duodenum. All the models achieved a high degree of success (77 to 93%) in assigning records to the high-, low-, or middle-dose groups. Two of the models gave a probability of the assignment. Results of this analysis suggest that blood amitriptyline and nortriptyline concentrations are most useful in estimating dose in acute amitriptyline overdose. |
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