A sensitive LC-MS/MS methotrexate assay capable of assessing adherence to methotrexate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Objectives To develop a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method capable of measuring serum methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis to assess adherence to drug treatment. Methods Isotopically labelled internal standard and deionised water were added to sample prior to solid phase extraction using a Waters Oasis Max ion-exchange 96-well plate. Following extraction, samples were analysed by LC-MS/MS on a TQS-micro mass spectrometer. Results Mean recovery was 107 % for four different concentrations of methotrexate spiked into seven patient samples, whilst post extraction spiking gave a mean recovery of 100 %. Between-batch and within-batch CVs were ≤6 % at three different concentrations of methotrexate in fresh frozen plasma. Mean bias was <5 % for between-batch and within batch analysis at three different weighed in concentrations of methotrexate certified reference material. The lower limit of quantification of the assay was 0.1 nmol/L with linearity up to approximately 100 nmol/L. Dilution linearity studies were used to validate the dilution of patient samples prior to analysis. There was no significant interference in the method from lipaemia, haemolysis or icterus. Conclusions A sensitive LC-MS/MS assay for methotrexate has been developed and validated. The method has been used to measure methotrexate adherence in patient samples from clinical trials and could be used in future research to assess the ability of the assay as a biofeedback intervention to improve adherence to methotrexate therapy.