Method for the analysis of perhexiline and its hydroxy metabolite in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography with precolumn derivatization.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of perhexiline and its monohydroxy metabolite in plasma has been developed. After a simple extraction procedure, the analytes are derivatized over a 30-min period with trans-4-nitrocinnamoyl chloride. The derivatized products are monitored at 340 nm following separation on a 5-micron phenyl reversed-phase column under isocratic conditions. The limits of detection for perhexiline and its hydroxy metabolite are 0.03 and 0.02 mg/l, respectively. The between-day and within-day assay coefficients of variation for perhexiline and its hydroxy metabolite at concentrations of 0.2 and 1.0 mg/I were less than 10%. The method has proved robust and suitable for the routine monitoring of perhexiline and hydroxyperhexiline.