Identification and quantification of ergotamine in human plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive and simple gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method is described for the identification and quantification of ergotamine in plasma or serum. Ergotamine is extracted with chloroform from the alkalinized sample and detected by electron ionization mass spectrometry. This analytical method was selected for an intense high-mass ion ideal for the specific quantification. It shows good linearity in the range from 50 pg/ml to 50 ng/ml for ergotamine in plasma. The practicability of this method is demonstrated by determining the plasma concentration of ergotamine in a sample from a patient.