Quantitative Analysis of Desmethylselegiline, Methamphetamine, and Amphetamine in Hair and Plasma from Parkinson Patients on Long-Term Selegiline Medication

• Published in: Journal of analytical toxicology Vol. 27; no. 3; pp. 135 - 141
• Main Authors: Kronstrand, Robert, Ahlner, Johan, Dizdar, Nil, Larson, Göran
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Niles, IL Oxford University Press 01.04.2003; Preston
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amphetamine - analysis; Amphetamine - blood; Amphetamines - analysis; Amphetamines - blood; Analysis; Antiparkinson Agents - administration & dosage; Antiparkinson Agents - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Drug addictions; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; General pharmacology; Hair - chemistry; Hair - metabolism; Hair Color - drug effects; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Melanins - analysis; Methamphetamine - analysis; Methamphetamine - blood; Middle Aged; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson Disease - metabolism; Patient Compliance; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Selegiline - administration & dosage; Selegiline - metabolism; Spectrophotometry; Toxicology; Biological fluid; Chemical analysis; Metabolite; Psychotropic; Metamfetamine; Sex; Parkinson disease; Biological material; Blood; Blood plasma; Hair (head); Amfetamine; Drug of abuse; Quantitative analysis; Human; Selegiline; Nervous system diseases; CNS stimulant; Coupled method; Color; Patient; Antiparkinson agent; Long term; Cerebral disorder; Gas chromatography; Chemotherapy; MAO B inhibitor; Treatment; Central nervous system disease; Concentration effect; Spectrophotometry; Mass spectrometry; Melanin; Extrapyramidal syndrome
• ISSN: 0146-4760; 1945-2403
• DOI: 10.1093/jat/27.3.135

Hair and plasma from patients on long-term selegiline medication were analyzed to evaluate the relationships between plasma and hair melanin concentrations and the incorporation of the selegiline metabolites methamphetamine and amphetamine in hair, and to evaluate hair analyses for determining compliance in medication. Analyses were performed on both the whole hairs, as well as pigmented and non-pigmented hairs from gray-haired patients. Melanin was quantitated by spectrophotometry, and metabolites were quantitated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Concentrations in pigmented and non-pigmented hairs differed significantly for both methamphetamine (p < 0.01) and amphetamine (p < 0.02), with mean concentration ratios being 3.69 ± 1.88 and 2.95 ± 1.16 for methamphetamine and amphetamine, respectively. Segmental analysis indicated that some patients had not been compliant with medication. We concluded that the incorporation of methamphetamine and amphetamine into hair of single individuals shows a preference for pigmented hairs over white hairs and that segmental analysis of hair may he useful when measuring compliance with medication.