본 연구는 LC-ESI-MS/MS를 이용하여 혈청 중의 피나스테라이드의 분석법을 확립하고, 밸리데이션을 통하여 분석방법의 타당도를 검증하였다. 혈청에 내부표준물질로 베클로메타손을 첨가한 후 methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)을 사용하여 액체상추출법(liquid-liquid extraction, LLE)으로 전처리하였다. LC-MS/MS의 양이온 모드에서 피나스테라이드와 베클로메타손의 MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) mass transition은 각각 m/z 373.2${ ightarrow}$305.2, m/z 409.3${ ightarrow}$391.2 이었으며, 머무름 시간은 각각 5.81분, 5.46분이었다. 피나스테라이드의 정량한계는 0.1 ng/mL로 나타났으며, 0.1~20.0 ng/mL의 농도 범위에서 검량선은 우수한 직선성($R^2$=0.9997)을 확인할 수 있었으며, 회수율은 80~83% 범위이었다. 피나스테라이드의 일내에 대한 정밀도는 6.3~10.6%, 정확도는 97.3~103.6% 범위이었으며, 연속 3일간 수행한 일간 정밀도는 0.8~5.2%, 정확도는 99.8~102.5%로 나타났다.
A liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of finasteride in human serum. Beclomethasone was used as internal standard (IS) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was carried out to isolate analyte. The mass transitions monitored in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive ion mode were m/z 373.2${ ightarrow}$305.2 for finasteride and m/z 409.3${ ightarrow}$391.2 for IS. Retention times of finasteride and IS were 5.81 and 5.46 min, respectively. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.1 ng/mL and the calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 0.1~20.0 ng/mL ($R^2$=0.9997). The intra-day assay precision and accuracy were in the range 6.3~10.6% and 97.3~103.6%, respectively, and the inter-day assay precision and accuracy were in the range 0.8~5.2% and 99.8~102.5%, respectively. The sample extract recovery of the method was 80~83%.
