LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY TANDEM MASS-SPECTROMETRY APPLIED TO A STUDY OF THE METABOLISM OF PENTAMIDINE - DISCUSSION OF POSSIBILITIES AND PROBLEMS

Tandem mass spectrometry is usually employed to achieve rapid screenin g or structure elucidation. We have used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in order to detect metabolites of the antiprotozoal drug pentamidine in urine. Samples of urine from rat and man were anal ysed both by direct injection and after solid-phase extraction. The pr esent paper discusses advantages and disadvantages of using direct inj ection of urine samples, optimization of chromatographic conditions wi th regard to the performance of the mass spectrometer, automation and stability of the entire system. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.