Quantitative determination of deferiprone in human plasma by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and its application to pharmacokinetic study

ABSTRACT

Deferiprone [1, 2 dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one] is considered to be the standard iron chelator. Pharmacokinetic studies of generic formulations are required in local condition before placed on the market. High performance liquid chromatographic [HPLC] method was used for quantification of deferiprone in human plasma using UV/VIS detector. Chromatographic separation was carried out on C[18] column, with a mobile phase of methanol-buffer [1882, v/v], pH 3.5, and caffeine was used as an internal standard. The calibration curve was linear over the range 0.25-10 micro g/mL in human plasma [R[2] = 0.9994]. After oral administration of deferiprone [500 mg] to human, the plasma concentration-time curve of deferiprone was conformed to two-compartment open model. The deferiprone plasma concentration showed a rapid absorption and average area under the plasma concentration-time curve [AUC] of deferiprone was 17.0 +/- 1.23 h. micro g/mL. Average absorption and elimination half-life values of deferiprone of 24 volunteers were 0.62 +/- 0.12 and 2.65 +/- 0.43 hours. This study confirms the rapid absorption of deferiprone in humans. AUC was similar to that previously reported but C[max] was slightly lower than that stated in the literature