A SENSITIVE AND SIMPLE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODFOR THE DETERMINATION OF MITOXANTRONE IN PLASMA

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for measuring the anthracene derivative, mitoxantrone, in plasma is descri bed. After protein precipitation with 5-sulfosalicylic acid, samples a re resolved by isocratic elution from a C18 reverse phase support and quantified by ultraviolet (UV) detection. Recovery of mitoxantrone aft er deproteinization was >70%. Within-run and between-day coefficients of variation (CVs) were 5.1 and 13.7%, respectively, at mitoxantrone c oncentrations of 20 nM (n = 6). The limit of detection was 2.5 nM and the standard curve linear up to 1 muM. Stability studies have shown th at mitoxantrone is stable in spiked whole blood for 3-6 h, provided th e samples are kept on ice. The drug is stable in plasma and deproteini zed plasma samples for at least 24 h. The method requires few manipula tions and is readily adaptable to automation.