[Determination of lovastatin and its active metabolites in human plasma with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a sensitive LC-MS/MS method for analyzing lovastatin and its active metabolites lovastatin acid in human plasma.


METHODS
Lovastatin and lovastatin acid were extracted from plasma by ethyl ether -dichloromethane (V/V, 1:1), with simvastatin serving as an internal standard. The analytes went through the column of Phenomenex Gemini C18 (50 x 3 mm, 3 microm) with mobile phase acetonitrile-water (85:15), and was analyzed by API3000 after protonated with ESI mode. The ion pairs being detected were 427.4-->325.4, 445.4-->343.4 and 436.4-->325.4, respectively.


RESULTS
The established method was able to determine lovastatin in human plasma over the range of 0.03125-64 microg/L, with recovery rates ranging from 96% to 102%. The intra and inter day variances were below 9.3%.


CONCLUSIONS
The LC-MS/MS method for analyzing lovastatin is validated and is suitable for clinical pharmacokinetic studies.
Liao
Dong-Xue
DX
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Qin
Yong-Ping
YP
Gong
Xiao-Li
XL
Liang
Mao-Zhi
MZ
Yu
Qin
Q
Nan
Feng
F
Xiang
Jin
J
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
D008148:Lovastatin