Quantitative determination of naltiazem in human plasma by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric procedure has been developed for the quantification of a diltiazem analog, naltiazem, in human plasma. The assay utilizes an extraction at neutral pH with hexane:ethylene dichloride:methyl-t-butyl ether (70:20:10), selective ion monitoring, methane or ammonia positive chemical ionization mass spectrometry and stable isotope dilution. The method has been used to analyze plasma concentrations of naltiazem in clinical samples over a range of 2-200 ng ml-1, using 1 ml of plasma.