Detection of dexmedetomidine in human breast milk using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a study of drug safety in breastfeeding after Cesarean section

Several analytical methods for dexmedetomidine (DEX) in human plasma have been published, but quantification of DEX in human breast milk has not been described. In this article, we describe a high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) method suitable for quantification of DEX in human breast milk. DEX and an internal standard were extracted in a single liquid–liquid extraction step with diethyl ether from 200 μL of human breast milk. HPLC was performed on a TSK-gel ODS-100V column with isocratic elution at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min using a mobile phase of 5 mM ammonium formate:0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile (60:40, v/v). Detection was performed using an API4000 mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization. The method was validated in the concentration range of 10 pg/mL (lower limit of quantification) to 2000 pg/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy were within ±5.8% and precision was <6.31% based on the coefficient of variation. The recoveries of DEX in human breast milk were 82.4–87.9%. Recovery and matrix effects were consistent and reproducible for human breast milk. The method is robust and was successfully used in a study of drug safety in breastfeeding in patients after administration of DEX.