Quantitative determination of prostaglandins A1 and B1 in alprostadil (PGE1) by high-performance liquid chromatography.

An absorption high-performance liquid chromatography assay for the quantitative determination of prostaglandins A1 and B1 in alprostadil (prostaglandin E1) and in Prostin VR Pediatric Sterile Solution was developed. Prostaglandins A1 and B1 have been shown to be the major degradation products of prostaglandin E1. The adsorption system provided baseline resolution of the 2-naphthacyl esters of prostaglandin A1 from prostaglandin B1. Derivatization conditions providing maximal response for prostaglandins A1 and B1 while minimizing the conversion of prostaglandin E1 to prostaglandins A1 and B1 were established.