title: High-sensitivity quantitation of cabergoline and pergolide using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with enhanced mass-resolution capabilities.
abstract: Quantitative analysis of pharmaceuticals with low systemic plasma levels requires the utmost in sensitivity and selectivity from the analytical method used. A recently introduced triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with unique enhanced mass-resolution capability was evaluated in the analysis of two such drugs, cabergoline and pergolide, in plasma. Liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization selected reaction monitoring determination of cabergoline in plasma at unit mass-resolution demonstrated improved sensitivity (50 fg on-column), coupled with suitable accuracy and precision over a broad linear dynamic range covering five orders of magnitude (50 fg to 5 ng on-column). Liquid chromatographic/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization selective reaction monitoring determination of pergolide in plasma also attained a high level of sensitivity (500 fg on-column) at unit mass-resolution, with accuracy and precision values well within pharmaceutical industry standards. Again, a linear dynamic range covering five orders of magnitude (500 fg to 50 ng on-column) was achieved for the assay. Utility of the enhanced mass-resolution feature of the triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer in the determination of pergolide resulted in an improvement in analyte sensitivity (250 fg on-column) and linear dynamic range (250 fg to 50 ng on-column).
authors.affiliation: Biovail Contract Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Winnik
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dunyach
authors.forename: Ma'an
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amad
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Splendore
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000077465:Cabergoline; D002417:Cattle; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000097:blood*; D004873:Ergolines / Q000097:blood*; D010479:Pergolide / Q000097:blood*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D004873:Ergolines; D010479:Pergolide; D000077465:Cabergoline