[Determination of lovastatin and its active metabolites in human plasma with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

ABSTRACT

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, 11), 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 (8515), 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%. CONCLUSION: The LC-MS/MS method for analyzing lovastatin is validated and is suitable for clinical pharmacokinetic studies.