Determination of urinary 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethylene glycol in man by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method for determining levels of 4-hydroxy-3- methoxyphenylethylene glycol (MHPG) in human urine that is virtually free of all interfering peaks has been developed. After addition of a homologous internal standard, enzymatic hydrolysis is performed. Samples are then placed onto columns containing AG1-X8, and the MHPG is collected in a phosphate buffer wash of the column. After ethyl acetate extraction and evaporation of the organic solvent, the dry residue is redissolved in mobile phase, and injected onto a reverse phase column. Results obtained with this assay were almost identical (101+/-5.6%, mean+/-SD, n=6) with those obtained using a gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GCMS) assay.