title: Fast analysis of catecholamine metabolites MHPG and VMA in human plasma by HPLC with fluorescence detection and a novel SPE procedure.
abstract: A fast and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination in human plasma of MHPG (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethylenglycol) and VMA (vanillyl mandelic acid), the main metabolites of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Analyses were carried out at 325 nm while exciting at 285 nm on a reversed-phase column (Atlantis C18, 150 mm x 4.6 mm I.D., 5 microm) using a mobile phase composed of 2% methanol and 98% aqueous citrate buffer at pH 3.0. A careful solid-phase extraction procedure, based on mixed-mode reversed-phase - strong anion exchange Oasis cartridges (MAX, 30 mg, 1 mL), was developed for the pre-treatment of plasma samples. Extraction yields were satisfactory, always higher than 90%. Calibration curves were linear over the 0.2-40.0 ng mL(-1) concentration range for MHPG and over the 0.5-40.0 ng mL(-1) concentration range for VMA. The method was successfully applied to plasma samples of former drug users undergoing detoxification therapy and subjects "at risk" of developing drug addiction.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mercolini
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerra
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Consorti
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Somaini
authors.forename: Maria Augusta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Raggi
mesh_terms: D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol / Q000097:blood*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D008734:Methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol; D014642:Vanilmandelic Acid