Simultaneous determination of atracurium and its metabolite laudanosine in post-mortem fluids by liquid chromatography/multiple-stage mass spectrometry on an ion trap.
A method was developed to accurately quantify atracurium (a non-depolarizing skeletal muscle relaxant) and its metabolite laudanosine in post-mortem specimens. Analytes were isolated from blood and tissues by liquid/liquid extraction after adding vecuronium as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was accomplished by gradient elution in a Synergy Max RP 150 x 2.1 mm column. Positive ion electrospray ionization and mass spectrometric analyses were carried out in an ion trap mass spectrometer under collision-induced dissociation conditions. The method proved selective and sensitive, and was validated in post-mortem blood, heart, lung and liver in the range of 1-2000 ng/mL (blood) and 5-5000 ng/g (tissues); the limits of quantification obtained were 1 ng/mL in blood and 5 ng/g in tissues.
Forensic Toxicology and Antidoping Unit, University Hospital of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, I-35121 Padova, Italy.
Santo Davide
SD
Ferrara
Alessandro
A
Nalesso
Franca
F
Castagna
Massimo
M
Montisci
Susanna
S
Vogliardi
Donata
D
Favretto
D001279:Atracurium / Q000032:analysis*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000032:analysis*; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents / Q000032:analysis; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
D045424:Complex Mixtures; D007546:Isoquinolines; D003473:Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents; D001279:Atracurium; C001522:laudanosine