LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination on a dried blood spot of multiple analytes relevant for treatment monitoring in patients with tyrosinemia type I

Anal Chem. 2012 Jan 17;84(2):1184-8. doi: 10.1021/ac202695h. Epub 2011 Dec 29.

Abstract

Tyrosinemia type 1 is caused by deficiency of fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase. The enzymatic defect impairs the conversion of fumarylacetoacetate to fumarate, causing accumulation of succinylacetone which induces severe liver and kidney dysfunction along with mutagenic changes and hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment is based on nitisinone (NTBC), an enzymatic inhibitor which suppresses succinylacetone production. NTBC, which has dramatically changed the disease course improving liver and kidney functions and reducing risk of liver cancer, causes a side effect of the increase of tyrosine levels. Treatment is therefore based on the combination of NTBC with a protein-restricted diet to prevent the potential toxicity of excessive tyrosine accumulation. Long-term therapy requires a careful monitoring in blood of NTBC levels along with other disease biomarkers, which include succinylacetone, and a selected panel of circulating aminoacids. We have developed a straightforward and fast MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of NTBC, succinylacetone, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and methionine on a dried blood spot requiring a 2 min run. A single assay suitable for quantitative evaluation of all biochemical markers is of great advance over conventional methods, especially in pediatric patients, since it reduces laboratory costs and blood sampling, is less invasive and particularly suitable for pediatric patients, and allows easier storage and shipping.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Adolescent
  • Biomarkers / blood*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromatography, Liquid*
  • Cyclohexanones / blood
  • Cyclohexanones / therapeutic use*
  • Diet, Protein-Restricted
  • Drug Monitoring*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / blood
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Heptanoates / blood
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Methionine / blood
  • Nitrobenzoates / blood
  • Nitrobenzoates / therapeutic use*
  • Phenylalanine / blood
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry*
  • Tyrosine / blood
  • Tyrosinemias / blood*
  • Tyrosinemias / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cyclohexanones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Heptanoates
  • Nitrobenzoates
  • Tyrosine
  • Phenylalanine
  • succinylacetone
  • Methionine
  • 4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase
  • nitisinone