Identification and quantification of 8 sulfonylureas with clinical toxicology interest by liquid chromatography-ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry and library searching.

Background: Identification of sulfonylureas in blood may be useful in the evaluation of hypoglycemic crises of unknown origin. The aim of the present study was to develop a highly selective liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) method using an ion-trap detector for rapid screening, identification, and quantification of sulfonylureas in human plasma.

Methods: After standard liquid-liquid extraction with glisoxepide as an internal standard, 8 sulfonylureas (glibenclamide, glipizide, gliclazide, glibornuride, glimepiride, carbutamide, chlorpropamide, and tolbutamide) were eluted from a C18 column within 10 min with an isocratic mobile phase.