Synthesis of [(18)O(2)]valproic acid and its use as an internal standard for the quantitative measurement by gas chromatography-electron ionization mass spectrometry

Gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry quantitation of valproic acid and gabapentin, using dried plasma spots, for therapeutic drug monitoring in in-home medical care

A simple and sensitive gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) method using dried plasma spot testing cards was developed for determination of valproic acid and gabapentin concentrations in human plasma from patients receiving in-home medical care. We have proposed that a simple, easy and dry sampling method is suitable for in-home medical patients for therapeutic drug monitoring. Therefore, in the present study, we used recently developed commercially available easy handling cards: Whatman FTA DMPK-A and Bond Elut DMS. In-home medical care patients can collect plasma using these simple kits. The spots of plasma on the cards were extracted into methanol and then evaporated to dryness. The residues were trimethylsilylated using N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide. For GC-EI-MS analysis, the calibration curves on both cards were linear from 10 to 200 µg/mL for valproic acid, and from 0.5 to 10 µg/mL for gabapentin. Intra- and interday precisions in plasma were both ≤13.0% (coefficient of variation), and the accuracy was between 87.9 and 112% for both cards within the calibration curves. The limits of quantification were 10 µg/mL for valproic acid and 0.5 µg/mL for gabapentin on both cards. We believe that the present method will be useful for in-home medical care.

Quantification of valproic acid and its metabolite 2-propyl-4-pentenoic acid in human plasma using HPLC-MS/MS

A specific and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of valproic acid (VPA) and its metabolite, 2-propyl-4-pentenoic acid in human plasma has been developed, using VPA-d15 as the internal standard. The method was based on pre-column derivatization using 4-dimethylaminobenzylamine dihydrochloride. The derivatives were separated with a gradient elution and quantified by positive electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring. The assay provides routine quantification limits of 200 ng/mL for VPA and 20 ng/mL for 4-ene VPA with within- and between-day coefficients of variation of <10%. This method has been applied to the analysis of plasma samples obtained from patients treated with this drug.

Development and validation of a sensitive assay of valproic acid in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography without prior derivatization

Sensitive and selective determination of valproic acid in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is usually achieved with pre-column derivatization. In the present work, the derivatization is omitted due to using a simple but highly selective plasma extraction procedure and an optimized chromatographic condition. Valproic acid and the internal standard octanoic acid were extracted from plasma samples with n-hexane under acidic condition followed by back-extraction into diluted triethylamine. Chromatography was performed on a CN column (250 x 4.6 mm, 5 microm) under isocratic elution with acetonitrile-40 mM aqueous sodium dihydrogen phosphate (30:70, v/v), pH 3.5. Detection was made at 210 nm and analyses were run at a flow-rate of 1 ml/min. The method was specific and sensitive with a quantification limit of 1.25 microg/ml and a detection limit of 0.1 microg/ml in plasma. The mean absolute recovery for valproic acid using the present plasma extraction procedure was 75.8%. The intra- and inter-day coefficient of variation and percent error values of the assay method were all in acceptable range. Calibration curves were linear (r>0.999) from 1.25 to 320 microg/ml in plasma.

Quantitative determination of fluvastatin in human plasma by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry using [18O2]-fluvastatin as an internal standard

A sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of fluvastatin in human plasma is presented. The drug was isolated from plasma by extractive alkylation with pentafluorobenzyl bromide and further derivatized to the bis-trimethylsilyl derivative. [18O2]-Fluvastatin was prepared from unlabelled fluvastatin and used as an internal standard. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry under negative ion chemical ionization conditions was used for quantitative measurement of the drug, using m/z 554.26 and 558.26 for target and internal standard, respectively. Calibration graphs were linear within a range of 2 and 512 ng mL(-1) plasma. Intra-day precision was 0.94% (2 ng mL(-1)), 2.53% (8.2 ng mL(-1)), 2.16% (81.9 ng mL(-1)) and 3.26% (409.6 ng mL(-1)); inter-day variability was found to be 1.64% (2 ng mL(-1)), 0.97% (8.2 ng mL(-1)), 1.97% (81.9 ng mL(-1)) and 2.01% (409.6 ng mL(-1)). Intra-day accuracy showed deviations of 0.6% (2 ng mL(-1)), 0.37% (8.2 ng mL(-1)), -1.52% (81.9 ng mL(-1)) and -1.67% (409.6 ng mL(-1)); inter-day accuracy was of -1.64% (2 ng mL(-1)), -1.13% (8.2 ng mL(-1)), -2.28% (81.9 ng mL(-1)) and -0.46% (409.6 ng mL(-1)). The stable isotope labelled standard was found to be stable under the analytical conditions.