title: High-performance liquid chromatographic and megabore gas-liquid chromatographic determination of levetiracetam (ucb L059) in human serum after solid-phase extraction.
abstract: For monitoring drug levels of the new potential anticonvulsant drug levetiracetam (ucb L059) in human serum, two assay methods were developed and compared. A solid-phase extraction procedure was followed by either reversed-phase HPLC separation and UV-detection or GLC separation using cold on-column injection on a megabore column and nitrogen-phosphorous detection. Absolute recovery of the drug exceeded 97%. Precision and accuracy values for the 16.0 micrograms/ml quality control sample were 2.4% and 101 +/- 5% (n = 10), respectively, for the GLC method. Precision and accuracy values for the 12.1 micrograms/ml quality control sample were 1.0% and 100 +/- 1% (n = 7), respectively, for the HPLC method. Agreement between both methods was excellent (r = 0.993). Both methods are suitable for pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring as well. Serum level data for levetiracetam in a patient on chronic antiepileptic medication are presented.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Instituut voor Epilepsiebestrijding, Heemstede, Netherlands.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Vermeij
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Edelbroek
mesh_terms: D001322:Autoanalysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011786:Quality Control; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D018697:Nootropic Agents; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam