Preparative HPLC for analysis of mineralocorticoids in human plasma

Summary  A method has been developed to measure simultaneously in human plasma the mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids involved in mineralocorticoid excess. Briefly: plasma extracts were chromatographied in a fully-automated procedure on a lichrospher-diol column using a hexane: isoproanol: trithylamine gradient. Eluates were collected on a preprogrammed fraction collector. Final quantification was achieved by RIA on the selected fractions. This procedure allowed: 1) the separation of each measured steroid from plasma contaminants; 2) precise collection; 3) quantification of mineralocorticoids with a precision and sensitivity equivalent to that of direct methods; and 4) improved specificity.