Sebastiano Barco1, Carmen Fucile2, Luca Manfredini3, Elisa De Grandis4, Marcella Gherzi4, Antonietta Martelli2, Gino Tripodi1, Francesca Mattioli3, Giuliana Cangemi1. 1. Department of Services and Diagnostic Laboratories, Central Laboratory of Analyses Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16143 Genoa, Italy. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacology & Toxicology Unit, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy. 3. Paediatric Chronic Pain & Palliative Care Service, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16143 Genoa, Italy. 4. Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics & Maternal & Children's Sciences, Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini Institute, 16143 Genoa, Italy.
Abstract
AIM: Monitoring of blood levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) is necessary for optimization of administration of medical cannabis. We describe the validation of a ultra-HPLC-MS/MS method for quantifying THC and CBD from plasma and decoctions and its application for therapeutic drug monitoring.Materials & methods: Analyses were performed by using a TSQ Quantiva™ Triple Quadrupole coupled to a Ultimate 3000 UHPLC system with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization after sample preparation with a straightforward method with deuterated internal standards. RESULTS: The method has been validated following EMA guidelines and is linear in plasma from 0.16 to 10 ng/ml for both THC and CBD and in decoctions from 4.7 to 600 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: Given the unpredictable pharmacokinetic behavior of THC and CBD in patients, monitoring of plasma concentrations is strongly recommended for patients under treatment with medical cannabis.
AIM: Monitoring of blood levels of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) is necessary for optimization of administration of medical cannabis. We describe the validation of a ultra-HPLC-MS/MS method for quantifying THC and CBD from plasma and decoctions and its application for therapeutic drug monitoring.Materials & methods: Analyses were performed by using a TSQ Quantiva™ Triple Quadrupole coupled to a Ultimate 3000 UHPLC system with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization after sample preparation with a straightforward method with deuterated internal standards. RESULTS: The method has been validated following EMA guidelines and is linear in plasma from 0.16 to 10 ng/ml for both THC and CBD and in decoctions from 4.7 to 600 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: Given the unpredictable pharmacokinetic behavior of THC and CBD in patients, monitoring of plasma concentrations is strongly recommended for patients under treatment with medical cannabis.
Entities:
Keywords:
CBD; LC–MS/MS; THC; cannabis; chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry; therapeutic drug monitoring