Determination of nanogram levels of the anticoagulant acenocoumarin in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simple, rapid, and sensitive method for the determination fo the short-acting coumarin anticoagulant acenocoumarin in human serum is described. This drug is estracted from the acidified biological matrix together with the internal standard 5-methoxypsoralen. Separation and quantitation are performed on a high-performance liquid chromatograph with a reversed-phase column and an ultraviolet detector operating at 308 nm. Accuracy and precision are good. The lowest limit of detection is 15 microgram/L, which means that acenocoumarin concentrations can be measured in serum from the subtherapeutic to the toxic range. This method can also be used for rapid measurement of warfarin serum concentrations.