HPLC Method for the Evaluation of Blood Acetaldehyde without Ethanol Interference

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Abstract
The evaluation of acetaldehyde blood levels is important in view of possible toxic effects in acute and chronic alcohol intoxication. Artefactual formation of acetaldehyde and its binding to erythrocyte components are the main problems that scientists have faced with in the measurement of acetaldehyde blood levels. Addition of butylraldehyde as internal standard to the blood immediately after withdrawal obviated these inconveniences. Aldehydes converted into their 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones were analyzed by HPLC [high performance liquid chromatography]. The mean value of acetaldehyde blood concentration measured by this method in 15 healthy subjects was 12.2 .+-. 1.3 .mu.M. The increase of acetaldehyde concentration in rabbits after ethanol infusion was also shown.