Simultaneous quantification of four antiretroviral drugs in breast milk samples from HIV-positive women by an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method

PLoS One. 2018 Jan 19;13(1):e0191236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191236. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The primary strategy to avoid mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through breastfeeding is administration of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to HIV-positive pregnant women. Because significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs occur during pregnancy, quantifying HAART and the viral load in breast milk in this population is essential. Here, we developed an analytical assay for the simultaneous quantification of four ARV drugs in breast milk using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We validated this method following Mexican and international guidelines. ARV drugs. We extracted the ARV drugs from 200 μL samples of breast milk and detected these drugs in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization. The validated concentration ranges (ng/mL) for zidovudine, lamivudine, lopinavir, and ritonavir were 12.5-750, 50-2500, 100-5000 and 5 to 250, respectively. Additionally, the absolute recovery percentages (and matrix effects) were 91.4 (8.39), 88.78 (28.75), 91.38 (11.77) and 89.78 (12.37), respectively. We determined that ARV drugs are stable for 24 h at 8°C and 24°C for 15 days at -80°C. This methodology had the capacity for simultaneous detection; separation; and accurate, precise quantification of ARV drugs in human breast milk samples according to Mexican standard laws and United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / analysis*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / standards
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • Breast Feeding
  • Calibration
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / standards
  • Colostrum / chemistry
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / prevention & control
  • Lamivudine / analysis
  • Lopinavir / analysis
  • Milk, Human / chemistry*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / metabolism
  • Reference Standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ritonavir / analysis
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / standards
  • Young Adult
  • Zidovudine / analysis

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Lopinavir
  • Lamivudine
  • Zidovudine
  • Ritonavir