High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of plasma thalidomide: stabilization of specimens and determination of a tentative therapeutic range for chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Abstract

Thalidomide is now widely used to treat chronic graft-versus-host disease, but its use is associated with non-teratogenic side effects such as peripheral neuropathy. To examine the value of monitoring plasma concentrations of the drug in such patients, we have developed a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay. The method uses 0.5 mL plasma, is linear to 10 mg/L and had a detection limit of 0.2 mg/L. Thalidomide in plasma specimens was unstable at physiological pH but could be stabilized for several weeks by simple acidification. We describe a protocol for monitoring patients treated with thalidomide which permits convenient transportation and storage of specimens and report, provisionally, that plasma concentrations in the range 1-7 mg/L are therapeutically effective in chronic graft-versus-host disease without adverse side effects.

• Authors: B J Boughton, T M Sheehan, J Wood, D O'Brien, M Butler, A Simpson, K A Hale
• Journal: Annals of clinical biochemistry (Ann Clin Biochem) Vol. 32 ( Pt 1) Pg. 79-83 (Jan 1995) ISSN: 0004-5632 [Print] England
• PMID: 7762955 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Thalidomide

Topics

• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Chronic Disease
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Stability
• Graft vs Host Disease (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Linear Models
• Male
• Monitoring, Physiologic (methods)
• Specimen Handling (methods)
• Thalidomide (blood)