Sensitive and rapid method for the simultaneous quantification of the HIV-protease inhibitors indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir in human plasma by reversed-phase liquid chromatography

Ther Drug Monit. 2001 Feb;23(1):56-60. doi: 10.1097/00007691-200102000-00011.

Abstract

A rapid, sensitive, and specific liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of four protease inhibitors (indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir) in human plasma is described. After a liquid-liquid extraction with terbutyl methyl ether and a sequential washing of the reconstituted sample with hexane, protease inhibitors are separated on a phenyl column using a simple binary mobile phase of ammonium acetate buffer:acetonitrile (48:52) (pH = 7.5) with an ultraviolet detection at 260 nm. The standard curves are linear in the range 0.025-1 microg/mL for saquinavir, 0.1-4 microg/mL for indinavir and nelfinavir, and 0.25-10 microg/mL for ritonavir, with an average recovery ranging from 79% to 99%, and with both low interday and intraday coefficients of variation (<15%). This assay is simple, rapid (15-minute interval between runs) , and useful for therapeutic monitoring of the protease inhibitors on a routine basis.

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Drug Monitoring
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / blood*
  • Humans
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Indinavir / blood
  • Nelfinavir / blood
  • Reference Standards
  • Ritonavir / blood
  • Saquinavir / blood
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

Substances

  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Indinavir
  • Nelfinavir
  • Saquinavir
  • Ritonavir