Determination of prednisone and prednisolone in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography--especially on impaired conversion of corticosteroids in patients with chronic liver disease.

A reliable and rapid method is described for the determination of prednisone and prednisolone in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography, using a Zorbax-SIL column with dichloromethane-ethanol (92.5:7.5) as eluent, with UV detection at 254 nm. Metabolites and endogenous hydrocortisone did not interfere with the determination of prednisone and prednisolone. The alteration of corticosteroid concentrations in serum from patients with chronic liver diseases was studied following a single oral administration of prednisone or prednisolone (30 mg). The proposed method showed good separation of several corticosteroids and was time-saving, suitable and reliable for the routine analysis of corticosteroids in human serum.