HPLC analysis of the second-generation antidepressant sertraline and its main metabolite N-desmethylsertraline in human plasma

A liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection was developed for the analysis of the recent antidepressant sertraline and its main metabolite N-desmethylsertraline in human plasma. The analytes were separated on a C8 reversed phase column, using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and a 12.3 mM, pH 3.0 phosphate buffer containing 0.1% triethylamine (35:65, v/v). Clomipramine was used as the Internal Standard. Using a solid phase extraction procedure with C2 cartridges high extraction yields (> 94%) and good purification from matrix interference were obtained. Good linearity was obtained in the 7.5-250.0 ng mL(-1) range for sertraline and in the 10-500 ng mL(-1) range for N-desmethylsertraline. The analytical method was validated in terms of precision, extraction yield and accuracy. These assays gave R.S.D.% values for precision always lower than 3.9% and mean accuracy higher than 90%. Thanks to its good selectivity, the method proved to be suitable for the analysis of plasma samples from patients treated with sertraline as either monotherapy or polypharmacy. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.