title: Determination of human plasma levels of levo-alpha-acetylmethadol and its metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
abstract: A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method is presented which allows the simultaneous determination of the plasma concentrations of the levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) and of its active metabolites (NorLAAM and DiNorLAAM), after derivatization with the reagent trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFAA). No interferences from endogenous compounds were observed following the extraction of plasma samples from 11 different human subjects. The standard curves were linear over a working range of 5-200ng/ml for the three compounds. Recoveries measured at three concentrations ranged from 47 to 67% for LAAM, from 50 to 69% for NorLAAM and from 28 to 50% for DiNorLAAM. Intra- and interday coefficients of variation determined at three concentrations ranged from 5 to 13% for LAAM, from 3 to 9% for NorLAAM and from 5 to 13% for DiNorLAAM. The limits of quantitation of the method were found to be 4ng/ml for the three compounds. No interference was noted from methadone. This sensitive and specific analytical method could be useful for assessing the in vivo relationship between LAAM's blood levels, clinical efficacy and/or cardiotoxicity
authors.affiliation: Unité de Biochimie et Psychopharmacologie Clinique, Département Universitaire de Psychiatrie Adulte, Hôpital de Cery, CH-1008 Prilly-Lausanne, Switzerland. c-b.eap@inst.hospvd.ch
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Eap
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouchoux
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Scherbaum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gastpar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Powell Golay
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baumann
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000097:blood*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008692:Methadyl Acetate / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008692:Methadyl Acetate