A simple, sensitive and robust method for simultaneous determination of antiepileptic drugs (gabapentin, pregabalin and vigabatrin) in human serum using GC-MS was developed and validated for clinical toxicology purposes. This method employs an emerging class of derivatization agents - alkyl chloroformates allowing the efficient and rapid derivatization of both the amino and carboxylic groups of the tested antiepileptic drugs within seconds. The derivatization protocol was optimized using the Design of Experiment statistical methodology, and the entire sample preparation requires less than 5 min. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range from 0.5 to 50.0 mg/L, with adequate accuracy (97.9-109.3%) and precision (<12.1%). The method was successfully applied to quantification of selected γ-aminobutyric acid analogs in the serum of patients in both therapeutic and toxic concentration ranges.

Department of Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Albertov 6 128 43 Prague 2 Czech Republic

Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague and General University Hospital Prague 121 08 Prague 2 Czech Republic Department of Analytical Chemistry Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Albertov 6 128 43 Prague 2 Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org