Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric assay for rocuronium with potential for quantifying its metabolite, 17-desacetylrocuronium, in human plasma.
A rapid, sensitive and selective method has been developed for the quantification of plasma concentrations of neuromuscular blocking drug, rocuronium, using gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. 3-Desacetylvecuronium served as the internal standard. The method involved iodide ion pair formation and a single-step liquid-liquid extraction with dicholoromethane. This method also permits simultaneous determination of its putative metabolite, 17-desacetylrocuronium, although the high detection limit for the metabolite limits the practical application of this method in pharmacokinetic study of the metabolite. The extraction efficiency was approximately 75% for rocuronium and approximately 50% for 17-desacetylrocuronium. The limit of quantification was 26 ng/ml for rocuronium and 870 ng/ml for its metabolite. The assay was used successfully in a patient undergoing liver transplantation and receiving rocuronium as a constant rate infusion and in a patient undergoing general elective surgery receiving the drug as an intravenous bolus. This assay is a time-saving alternative to published gas or liquid chromatographic methods for assaying rocuronium.
Gao
L
L
Department of Anaesthesia, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Ramzan
I
I
Baker
B
B
D000732:Androstanols / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D000077123:Rocuronium; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000732:Androstanols; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D000077123:Rocuronium