Rapid liquid-chromatographic method for simultaneous determination of plasma prednisone, prednisolone, and cortisol in pediatric renal-transplant recipients
Mcbride, J.H.; Rodgerson, D.O.; Park, S.S.; Reyes, A.F.
Clinical Chemistry 37(5): 643-646
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9147 PMID: 2032316 Document Number: 378904
A rapid liquid-chromatographic method is described for simultaneously determining prednisone, prednisolone and cortisol in plasma. Before chromatography, samples containing and internal standard (methylprednisolone) were extracted with use of Chem ElutTM (Analytichem) columns. After elution of the glucocorticosteroids, the eluates were dried and reconstituted in a mobile phase of tetrahydrofuran/water (25/75 by vol). Samples were injected onto a reversed-phase C18 column, and analysis time was 15.5 min. Measures of analytical performance were all acceptable, and the method was used to assess noncompliance in pediatric renal-transplant recipients who were receiving prednisone and cyclosporine. Of the 37 pediatric patients tested, five (13.5%) were identified as noncompliant. The method is simple, accurate, and precise, and other steroids and medications commonly given to transplant recipients do not interfere with it.