Determination of Therapeutic γ-Aminobutyric Acid Analogs in Forensic Whole Blood by Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Vigabatrin, pregabalin, gabapentin and baclofen are γ-aminobutyric acid analogs that are used in the treatment of epileptic seizures (vigabatrin, pregabalin and gabapentin) and spasticity (baclofen). The intake of these drugs may induce adverse reactions and impair the ability of an individual to drive a vehicle. There have also been reports of cases of intoxication and fatalities from overdoses. For rapid and accurate quantification of these drugs in forensic cases, an ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method using pneumatically assisted electrospray ionization has been developed. The technique has been validated on both ante- and postmortem human whole blood. The protein in the blood samples was removed by the addition of a mixture of methanol and acetonitrile, and the extract was ultrafiltered and diluted with acetonitrile. The separation was performed by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography. Calibration of the system was achieved through use of matrix-matched calibrants combined with isotope dilution. The lower limits of quantification were 0.02-0.04 mg/L, and the relative intra-laboratory reproducibility standard deviations were <4 and 8% at concentrations of 10 and 1 mg/L, respectively. The mean true recoveries were >89%. The trueness expressed as the relative bias of the test results was within ±7% at concentrations of 1-40 mg/L for vigabatrin, pregabalin and gabapentin and of 0.1-4 mg/L for baclofen.