Gas chromatographic determination of valproic acid in human plasma

✍ Scribed by L.J. Dusci; L.P. Hackett

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1977
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 185 KB
• Volume: 132
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1873-3778
• DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9673(00)93784-1

✦ Synopsis

Valproic acid (di-n-propylacetic acid) is the free acid form of the drug'm-aketed under the names of Epilim, Sodium Valproate, and Depakine. Although valproic acid has been used for a number of years as an anti-epileptic drug, littIe has-been published on analytical methods and plasma levels I**. Several trials have recently been performed using this drug both in combination with other anti-epiieptic drugs and by itself, illustratin_g its effectiveness in controlling epiIepsy*g3.

A number of problems are encountered in the estimation of valproic acid. Firstly, the acid is volatile and hence lost on evaporation. Secondly, the acid has a tendency to absorb on the column, making chromatography somewhat difficult. We have described a method where there is no evaporation or derivatizatiocand which is suitable for the analysis of valproic acid in plasma down to levels of 5 mg/l.

EXPERIMENTAL AND RESULTS

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