Published: Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN 0146-4760, Volume 32, Number 1, January/February, pp.68-72

Quantification of Nerve Agent VX-Butyrylcholinesterase Adduct Biomarker from an Accidental Exposure
Maria I. Solano[1], Jerry D. Thomas[1], James T. Taylor[2], Jeffrey M. McGuire[2], Edward M. Jakubowski[2], Sandra A. Thomson[2], Vincent L. Maggio[1], Kerry E. Holland[1], J. Richard Smith[3], Benedict Capacio[3], Adrian R. Woolfitt[1], David L. Ashley[1], and John R. Barr[1],
[1]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, Georgia 30341;
[2]U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, 5183 Black Hawk Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5424; and
[3]U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, 3100 Ricketts Point Road, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21010-5400

The lack of data in the open literature on human exposure to the nerve agent O-ethyl-S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothioate (VX) gives a special relevance to the data presented in this study in which we report the quantification of VX-butyrylcholinesterase adduct from a relatively low-level accidental human exposure. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry using the fluoride ion regeneration method for the quantification of multiple nerve agents including VX. Six human plasma samples from the same individual were collected after the patient had been treated once with oxime immediately after exhibiting signs of exposure. Detection limits of approximately 5.5 pg/mL plasma were achieved for the G-analogue of VX (G-VX). Levels of the G-VX ranged from 81.4 pg/mL on the first day after the exposure to 6.9 pg/mL in the sample taken 27 days after the exposure. Based on the reported concentration of human butyrylcholinesterase in plasma of approximately 80nM, it can be calculated that inhibition levels of ≥ 0.05% of BuChE can be accurately quantified. These data further indicate that the fluoride ion regeneration method is a potentially powerful tool that can be used to assess low-level exposure to VX.

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