An LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of sulfasalazine and sulfapyridine in human placenta

Abstract

Sulfasalazine has been identified as a candidate molecule to be investigated as an intervention to treat preterm pre-eclampsia during pregnancy. However, placental exposure of sulfasalazine and its systemically absorbed metabolite, sulfapyridine, is unknown. A robust liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to simultaneously quantitate these analytes in human placenta with an application to a pilot clinical trial. The placental tissue was homogenised using a water:methanol (1:1, v/v) mixture, followed by sample extraction using both protein precipitation and solid phase extraction. Sulfasalazine-d4 and sulfapyridine-d4 were used as internal..