HPLC detection of miltefosine using an evaporative light scattering detector

Miltefosine has recently been introduced as leishmanicidal drug for oral administration (Impavido). Previous communications report about the use of liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detection to detect miltefosine in pharmaceutical preparations and biological fluids. We report about a new method to detect miltefosine using an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). The absolute recovery of the analyte was greater than 98.0%. The limit of quantification for miltefosine in plasma at a signal-to-noise ratio of 7.3 was 0.34 microg/ml. The precision of the assay yielded coefficients of variation ranging from 1.8 to 4.5% and an accuracy of 97-107%. Our method advances the qualitative and quantitative detection of miltefosine by combining rapid and efficient solid phase extraction and analysis with an evaporative light-scattering detector.