Simultaneous Microassay of Alfentanil, Fentanil, and Sufentanil by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

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Abstract
A microassay for the simultaneous determination of alfentanil, fentanil and sufentanil by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection in plasma and urine samples from newborn babies is reported. The HPLC analysis was performed with a commercially available 4 μm particle size reverse phase Waters Nova pak Cyano Column (8mm × 100 mm dimensions), guard pak cyano cartridges and a UV/VIS detector at 214 nm. Each run was completed within 10 min. The detection limits for the analysis were 0.15 ng, 0.12 ng and 0.25 ng for alfentanil, fentanil and sufentanil, respectively with 50 μl injection. The respective retention times were 5.78 ± 0.29, 6.56 ± 0.32, and 7.08 ± 0.15 minutes for alfentanil, fentanil, and sufentanil. Applicability of this technique was evaluated in 6 newborn babies receiving constant I. V. infusion of fentanyl at 3.0 microgram/kg/h. Their plasma fentanyl concentrations were 3.04 ± 0.44 μg/L which correlated with adequate pain control. Microassay is relatively simple, rapid and precise and would be useful for therapeutic drug monitoring of these drugs in the newborn or in cases of limited sample volume.

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