HPLC with on-line mass spectrometry detection application to elucidate erdosteine metabolism: preliminary study.

A newer technique, HPLC with mass spectrometry (MS) detection has been used to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a new mucoactive compound, erdosteine and its metabolites (N-thioglycolilhomocysteine and homocysteine). To this aim a population of 12 patients of both genders with mean age 52.1+/-6.34 years was enrolled in a trial after protocol approval from Ethics Committee and informed consent obtainment. The patients were treated with erdosteine for 7 days and blood samples were obtained at baseline and on 8th day for analytical purposes. The obtained results are discussed in correlation with those of two previous existing trials on the same product.