A novel ethacrynic acid sensor based on a lanthanide porphyrin complex in a PVC matrix.

Lanthanide porphyrin complexes synthesized by a solid state method were used to prepare a novel ethacrynic acid (EA) sensor. The sensor, based on pentane-2,4-dionato(meso-tetraphenylporphinato)terbium [TbTPP(acac)] with an optimized membrane composition, exhibits a Nernstian response to EA- ion in the concentration range 7.4 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-1) mol l-1 with a pH range from 3.2 to 6.8 and a fast response time of 30 s. The electrode shows improved selectivity towards EA- ion with respect to common co-existing ions compared with the previously reported EA sensor. As electroactive materials, lanthanide porphyrin complexes show better potentiometric response characteristics than copper porphyrin complexes. The effect of solvent mediators and lipophilic ion additives was studied and the experimental conditions were optimized. The electrode was applied to the determination of EA in human urine samples with satisfactory results.

Immunoassay detection of drugs in racing horses: detection of ethacrynic acid and bumetanide in equine urine by ELISA.

We have raised antibodies and developed one-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the diuretics ethacrynic acid and bumetanide as part of a panel of pre- and post-race tests for high potency drugs in racing horses. These ELISA tests are rapid (completed within one hour), sensitive, and can be read by eye. The ELISA detects ethacrynic acid at a drug concentration for half-maximal inhibition (I-50) of about 2.5 ng/mL for the parent drug. After dosing horses intravenously with 5 mg ethacrynic acid per horse, the parent drug or its metabolites are detectable in urine for at least 8 hours. The bumetanide ELISA has an I-50 for the parent drug of about 2.0 ng/mL and will detect bumetanide or its metabolites for about 8 hours in urine after intravenous administration of a 1.7-mg dose per horse. Both antibodies are relatively specific for each drug and do not cross-react with other commonly used diuretics or other acidic compounds often found in post-race equine urine samples. Ethacrynic acid and bumetanide are potent diuretics suspected of being illegally substituted for furosemide in certain racing jurisdictions. Development of these rapid, sensitive, and simple tests for these agents will allow more effective pre- and post-race control of the use of these agents in racing horses. Both tests have recently uncovered several "positives" for these medications in a midwestern racing jurisdiction.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of diuretics in urine by micellar liquid chromatography.

The use of micellar liquid chromatography for the determination of diuretics in urine by direct injection of the sample into the chromatographic system is discussed. The retention of the urine matrix at the beginning of the chromatograms was observed for different sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) mobile phases. The eluent strengths of a hybrid SDS-methanol micellar mobile phase for several diuretics were compared and related to the stationary phase/water partition coefficient with a purely micellar mobile phase. The urine band was appreciably narrower with a mobile phase of 0.05 M SDS-5% methanol (v/v) at 50 degrees C (pH 6.9). With this mobile phase the determination of bendroflumethiazide and chlorthalidone was adequate. Acetazolamide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide and probenecid were overlapped by the urine matrix, and the retention of amiloride and triamterene was too long.

Simultaneous analysis of flunixin, naproxen, ethacrynic acid, indomethacin, phenylbutazone, mefenamic acid and thiosalicylic acid in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Simple and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) methods have been developed for the simultaneous analysis of several acidic drugs in horse plasma and urine. Although the capillary GC-MS column provided better separation of the drugs than the reversed-phase C8 (3 microns, 75 mm) HPLC column, the total analysis time with HPLC was shorter than the total analysis time with GC-MS. The HPLC system equipped with a diode-array detector provided simultaneous screening (limit of detection 100-500 ng/ml) and confirmation (limit 1.0 micrograms/ml) of the drugs. The HPLC system equipped with fixed-wavelength ultraviolet and fluorescence detectors provided a relatively sensitive screening [limit of detection 50-150 ng/ml for ultraviolet and 10 ng/ml for fluorescence (naproxen only) detectors] of the drugs. However, the positive samples had to be confirmed by using either the diode-array detector or the GC-MS system. The GC-MS system provided simultaneous screening and confirmation of the drugs at very low concentrations (20-50 ng/ml).

Screening for diuretics in human urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with derivatisation by direct extractive alkylation.

A rapid, sensitive and reliable gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) screening procedure for diuretics in human urine has been developed. The procedure uses derivatisation by extractive methylation directly from the urine. The suitability of a number of phase transfer reagents and solvents were studied for the detection of sixteen diuretics. The results obtained indicate that the screening procedure employing tetrahexylammonium hydrogensulphate at pH 12 with methyl iodide in toluene at room temperature was the most effective. This method gives selectivity and sensitivities down to 0.03-0.1 microgram/ml and provides a substrate suitable for GC-MS confirmation without further manipulation. The application of the method is demonstrated by the screening of urine for bumetanide, ethacrynic acid, acetazolamide, chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide.

[Hyperreninism without hyperaldosteronism in diuretic abuse: a report of a case with identification of mefruside and ethacrynic acid in urine (author's transl)]. / Hyperreninismus ohne Aldosteronismus bei Diuretika-Abusus. Kasuistik mit Nachweis von Ethacrynsäure und Mefrusid im Harn.

A 46-year-old nurse had been hospitalized 16 times during the preceding five years because of episodes of excessive hypokalaemia. On admission to hospital there was hypokalaemia, polyuria, excessive plasma renin activity but no increased aldosterone secretion rate. Diuretic abuse was confirmed by gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry of mefruside and ethacrynic acid in the patient's urine. Apart from other interesting aspects of this case there was the demonstration of hyperreninism without hyperaldo-steronism. The stimulating effect of renin on aldosterone secretion was obviously lower than the inhibiting effect of hypokalaemia. The general term "renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system" is, therefore, misleading because it mentions only one pathway of aldosterone regulation. The combination of hypokalaemia, polyuria, hyperreninism without hyperaldosteronism is apparently the principal but not widely recognised feature of diuretic abuse.