Rapid determination of sumatriptan in human plasma by ultra performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and its application to clinical pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive and simple detection method coupling ultra-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated to analyze sumatriptan levels in human plasma. The plasma sample preparations for the analysis were based on liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, evaporation, and reconstitution. MS/MS detection was performed on a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer by monitoring the protonated parent → daughter ion pairs at m/z 296 → 58 and m/z 388 → 71 for sumatriptan and terazosin (internal standard), respectively. The method was validated with respect to its specificity, linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability. The calibration curve was linear from 0.5 to 50 ng/mL (r > 0.999). The mean extraction recovery for sumatriptan was higher than 62.3%. The method accuracy was within 97.4%, and the relative standard deviation of the intra- and inter-day precision values was within 11.7% at all quality control levels. Plasma samples that contained sumatriptan were stable under three freeze–thaw cycles, short- and long-term storage, and autosampler conditions. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study conducted with 10 healthy volunteers. After oral administration of 50-mg sumatriptan and serial blood sampling over 12 h, the mean area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to 12 h and the maximum plasma concentration were 116.2 ng h/mL and 33.2 ng/mL, respectively.

► An U-HPLC–MS/MS analysis method for the quantification of sumatriptan was developed and validated using human plasma.
► This analysis method has been successfully validated in the 0.5–50 ng/mL calibration range.
► The assay method precision was within 11.8%, and accuracy was between 97.4 and 102.9%.
► The developed and validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of sumatriptan.