Determination of Chloroquine and Monodesethylchloroquine in Hair

Abstract

Using thin-layer and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, chloroquine and its major metabolite (monodesethylchloroquine) were identified in hair samples of numerous patients who received this antimalarial drug for several months. In two patients the amounts of chloroquine were, respectively, 310 and 145 mg/kg hair and those of the monodesethylchloroquine 23 and 11 mg/kg. The respective proportions (93 and 7%) are the same in the two subjects. The chloroquine percentage was near those in the spleen or stomach wall after poisoning. Other metabolites in hair are being identified. Hair analysis may provide a good toxicologic and forensic science complement to the blood, urine, and tissues. It may be useful for the control of chloroquine therapy.

Therapy and pharmacological properties of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and related diseases

“…(Varga 1968a, b;Stepien and Wilczok 1982;McChesney 1983;Viala et al 1983;McChesney and Fitch 1984;Stepien et al 1987;MacIntyre and Cutler 1986). Most pharmacokinetic parameters fit a three-compartment model (Titus 1989).…”

Micro-segmental hair analysis: detailed procedures and applications in forensic toxicology

“…One simple classification is bulk-or single-hair analysis. Bulk hair typically consists of tens of strands per sample [1,3,4,[6][7][8]13]. The advantages of bulk-hair analysis are that it averages the growth rate and drug concentration between individual hair strands and increases the absolute amounts of analytes introduced into the instruments, thereby increasing the chances of detecting small but relevant quantities.…”

“…A further classification is whole-hair or segmental hair analysis. Whole hair contains information on drug use for the period from the previous habitual haircut to the sampling of hair for research [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The purpose of whole-hair analysis is to introduce sufficient analytes into analytical instruments using a limited number of hair strands.…”

“…The mass of hair used for the analysis was only 0.4 mg. Meanwhile, drug detection using gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS) was developed in 1983 [3,4]. The use of MS has made a significant contribution to the reliable identification of compounds.…”

Forensic science

“…By sectioning the hair, the approximate period of drug use could be determined (448). By use of TLC, GC, and GC/MS, chloroquine and its major metabolite were identified in hair samples (449). Esterase D and glyoxalase I were detected in freshly plucked hair roots.…”