title: Differences of propofol concentrations in mammalian whole blood and in corresponding plasma samples analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In preparation for a study of the pharmacokinetics and elimination of propofol, a frequently used intravenous narcotic, we sought for a simple but accurate method for determining the drug in biological fluids from various mammalian species.
  
  
  METHODS
  We established an isocratic high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay with fluorimetric detection for quantification of propofol, studied the analytical characteristics of the method, and measured the narcotic in heparinized whole blood and corresponding plasma samples drawn from 5 subjects each of humans, pigs, sheep and goats prior to and after 10 minutes of constant infusion of propofol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following protein precipitation with methanol, propofol was quantified in the alcoholic phase. With 30 microl extract, lower limits of detection and quantification of propofol were 2 and 10 microg I(-1), the measurable range extended to 8000 microg I(-1). Intra- and inter-assay CVs tested at propofol concentrations between 40 and 3000 microg I(-1) were < 3% and < 8%, respectively. Propofol levels ranged from 900 to 10,000 microg I(-1) after 10 minutes of drug infusion; among the animals treated with identical doses, pigs exhibited the highest and sheep the lowest circulating propofol concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analysis of propofol by the HPLC method described is highly practicable, sensitive and specific. Propofol concentrations measured in heparinized blood and corresponding plasma samples differ slightly; in addition to inter-individual variations, species-specific differences in the drug's disposition between plasma and blood cells were observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Clinics Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grossherr
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spies
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hengstenberg
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gehring
authors.forename: Leif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dibbelt
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D015742:Propofol