Automated high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of two novel ergoline compounds in human plasma

A rapid and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the novel ergoline derivatives sergolexole (compound I), its acid metabolite (compound II) and cis-n-(2-hydroxycyclopentyl)-6-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl) ergoline-8-carboxamide (LY215840, compound III) in human plasma is reported. The compounds were extracted from plasma by automated solid-phase extraction and analysed on a reversed-phase C₈ column with fluorescence detection. The limit of quantification for all compounds was 10 ng/ml and the response was linear over the range 10–1000 ng/ml. Validation studies showed the method to be both repeatable and reproducible with no interference from human plasma. The method has been used to support pharmacokinetic studies and has proved to be robust and effective.