High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative analysis of the aryloxypropanolamines propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol in plasma and tissue.

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described for the quantitative analysis of three beta-receptor blocking drugs of similar molecular structure (aryloxypropanolamines, AOPAs) but with different polarities. the method consists of extraction, reversed-phase ion-pair chromatography and fluorometric detection, whereby slight modifications in these parameters allow analysis of the different AOPAs in a similar way. The method was used to determine concentrations of propranolol, metoprolol and atenolol in plasma and various organs of the rat. In samples of 1 ml of plasma and 0.5--1.7 g of tissue, drug concentrations of at least 2 ng/ml and 5 ng/g, respectively, can be measured. Extension of the method to other AOPAs is possible.