Citation

Mercerolle M, Denooz R, Lachâtre G, Charlier C. J. Anal. Toxicol. 2008; 32(2): 192-196.

Affiliation

Service de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dupuytren, 87042 Limoges, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Preston Publications)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18334106

Abstract

A sensitive and reproducible method for the identification and the quantitative determination of bupropion (BUP) and its major metabolites, hydroxybupropion (OH-BUP) and threohydrobupropion (T-BUP), was developed in blood and urine. The three compounds were extracted with a solid-phase extraction procedure followed by LC-ESI-MS-MS separation and quantification using decadeuterated lidocaine as internal standard. BUP and its metabolites were satisfactorily identified by multiple reactions monitoring detection. The limits of detection and quantification were determined at 5 and 10 microg/L, respectively, for each analyte. The intraday and interday coefficients of variability were lower than 11.9% for BUP and its metabolites. This method was applied to the forensic case of a 35-year-old male who died after a suspected ingestion of 30 slow-release tablets of Zyban. As samplings were performed at least 72 h after the drug intake, BUP had disappeared from blood, but OH-BUP and T-BUP were present at the concentrations of 5.8 and 30.4 mg/L, respectively. In urine, concentrations ranged from 42.9 mg/L for BUP to 617 mg/L for T-BUP. These results agree with the hypothesis of a successful suicide attempt.

Language: en