Simultaneous Determination of Rifamycin Antibiotics and Their Active Metabolites in Human Plasma Using UHPLC-MS/MS to Evaluate Their Impact on Target Peak Concentrations: A Short Communication

Abstract

Background: Standard and proper antituberculosis (anti-TB) treatment is essential for patients with TB, and rifamycin antibiotics are key components of anti-TB therapy. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of rifamycin antibiotics can shorten the time to response and complete treatment of TB. Notably, antimicrobial activities of the major active metabolites of rifamycin are similar to those of their parent compounds. Thus, a rapid and simple assay was developed for simultaneous determination of rifamycin antibiotics and their major active metabolites in plasma to evaluate their impact on target peak concentrations. Here, the authors have developed and validated a method for simultaneous determination of rifamycin antibiotics and their active metabolites in human plasma using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Methods: Analytical validation of the assay was performed in accordance with the bioanalytical method validation guidance for industry described by the US Food and Drug Administration and the guidelines for bioanalytical method validation described by the European Medicines Agency.

Results: The drug concentration quantification method for rifamycin antibiotics, including rifampicin, rifabutin, and rifapentine, and their major active metabolites was validated. Significant differences in the proportions of active metabolites in rifamycin antibiotics may affect the redefinition of their effective concentration ranges in the plasma. The method developed herein is expected to redefine the ranges of "true" effective concentrations of rifamycin antibiotics (including parent compounds and their active metabolites).

Conclusions: The validated method can be successfully applied for high-throughput analysis of rifamycin antibiotics and their active metabolites for TDM in patients receiving anti-TB treatment regimens containing these antibiotics. Proportions of active metabolites in rifamycin antibiotics markedly varied among individuals. Depending on the clinical indications of patients, the therapeutic ranges for rifamycin antibiotics may be redefined.