Application of pharmacokinetics in the diagnosis of chemical abuse in Münchausen syndrome by proxy.

ABSTRACT

The case of a preschooler who was chemically abused in Münchausen syndrome by proxy is presented. Though there were many clinical characteristics that raised suspicions of this syndrome, the definitive diagnosis was made by the application of pharmacokinetics during a hospital admission. This is the first reported use of this diagnostic approach to confirm this elusive disorder. Standard pharmacological equations can be used to provide this information from pharmacokinetic data which are readily available in most hospital settings.