Stereoselective analysis of ketorolac in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analytical method is described for the quantification of the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of ketorolac when present together in human plasma. The method involves derivatization with thionyl chloride/(S)-1-phenylethylamine and subsequent reversed-phase chromatography of the diastereomeric (S)-1-phenylethylamides of (R)- and (S)-ketorolac. The method is suitable for the analysis of large numbers of plasma samples and has been applied in this report to a pharmacokinetic study of ketorolac enantiomers upon intramuscular administration of racemic drug to a human subject. The limit of quantification for each enantiomer of ketorolac is 50 ng/ml (signal-to-noise ratio > 10).