RESUMO
Objective: To develop a ultra performance liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC- MS/MS) method for the simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin(RT), atorvastatin(AT)and their metabolites, i.e., atorvastatin lactone (ATL), ortho- hydroxy-atorvastatin(O-AT)and para-hydroxy-atorvastatin(P-AT), in human plasma. Methods: Deuterium-labeled compounds, RT-d6, AT-d5 and P-AT-d5 were used as the internal standards(IS). The plasma samples were extracted with ethyl acetate. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a ACQUITY UPLCTM BEH C18 column(50 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm)with the mobile phase of 0.2%(v/v)formic acid aqueous solution and methanol by gradient elution. The flow rate was 0.2 ml/min, and the column temperature was 40℃. Analytes were detected on a tandem mass spectrometer, equipped with an electrospray ionization source that was operated in the positive mode. The selectivity, standard curve, precision and accuracy, extraction recoveries, matrix effect, and stability were investigated. Results: The linear range of RT was 0.1-50 ng/ml with r2 =0.9977. The linear range for AT, ATL, O-AT and P-AT was 0.05-50 ng/ml with r2 =0.9997, 0.9988, 0.9923 and 0.9995, respectively. Conclusion: The established method is rapid, sensitive, accurate, specific and reliable, which is suitable for the simultaneous determination of RT, AT and their metabolites in human plasma.