The contribution of propranolol metabolites to the fluorometric assay of propranolol in human plasma.

1. Studies were undertaken to determine the fluorescent properties of several propranolol metabolites under the conditions of the fluorometric propranolol assay. Of the metabolites studied, propranolol glycol and N-desisopropylpropranolol had significant molar fluorescent coefficients relative to propranolol (72 and 79% respectively). N-desisopropylpropranolol was extracted with the same efficiency as propranolol (greater than 90%) wheras the glycol metabolite had only 34% extraction efficiency. Addition of each metabolite to samples of human plasma containing propranolol produced the predicted increase in fluorescent intensity. 2. Gas chromatographic analysis of plasma collected from 22 hypertensive patients chronically receiving oral propranolol revealed low concentrations of propranolol glycol and N-desisopropylpropranolol relative to propranolol. The results of these studies indicate that fluorescent metabolites of propranolol are not present in sufficient concentration to significantly interfere with the fluorometric assay of propranolol.