Title: Simplification of the mass spectrometric assay for the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin D2.

Authors: Awad, J A; Morrow, J D; Roberts 2nd, L J

Published In J Chromatogr, (1993 Jul 23)

Abstract: The symptoms and hemodynamic alterations that accompany systemic mast cell activation have been attributed in large part to an excessive release of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). Further, PGD2 has been implicated in the adverse effects of some pharmacologic agents (e.g. nicotinic acid). Quantitation of the major urinary metabolite of PGD2 has been invaluable in elucidating a role for PGD2 in these clinical entities and in the biochemical diagnosis of the disease systemic mastocytosis. However, the stable-isotope mass spectrometric assay originally developed for quantification of this metabolite has been too cumbersome for routine use. We now report improvements in the assay that greatly increase its utility by shortening sample processing and eliminating the need for purification using thin-layer chromatography. The precision and accuracy of the modified assay was evaluated and found to be comparable with the previously described assay. These modifications potentially allow wider use of the assay to explore the role of PGD2 in human disease and in the routine biochemical diagnosis of systemic mastocytosis and other disorders of mast cell activation.

PubMed ID: 8376525

MeSH Terms: Female; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/methods*; Humans; Male; Mastocytosis/diagnosis; Mastocytosis/urine; Prostaglandins D/urine*; Reproducibility of Results