Determination of 3‐α‐hydroxytibolone in human plasma by LC‐MS/MS: application for a pharmacokinetic study after administration of a tibolone formulation

A new method was developed for the quantitation of 3‐α‐hydroxy tibolone, in human plasma, after oral administration of a tablet formulation containing tibolone (2.5 mg). 3‐α‐Hydroxy tibolone was extracted by a liquid–liquid procedure, using cyproterone acetate as internal standard and chlorobutane as extraction solvent. After extraction, samples were submitted to a derivatization step with p‐toluenesulfonyl isocyanate. A mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (72:28 v/v) was used and chromatographic separation was achieved using Agilent XDB C₁₈ column (100 × 4.6 mm i.d.; 5 µm particle size), at 40°C. Mass spectrometric detection was performed using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in negative mode for 3‐α‐hydroxy tibolone and in positive mode for cyproterone acetate. The fragmentation transitions were m/z 510.2 → m/z 170.1 and m/z 417.0 → m/z 357.1 for 3‐α‐hydroxy tibolone and cyproterone acetate, respectively. Calibration curves were constructed over the range 100–30,000 pg/mL and the method was shown to be specific, precise and accurate, with a mean recovery rate of 94.2% for 3‐α‐hydroxy tibolone. No matrix effect or carry‐over was detected in the samples. The validated method was applied in a pharmacokinetic study with a tibolone formulation in healthy female volunteers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.