Monitoring of Phenylalanine Levels in Patients with Phenylketonuria Using Dried Blood Spots: a Comparison of Two Methods

Abstract Phenylketonuria (PKU) is caused by deficient activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), responsible for the conversion of phenylalanine (Phe) to tyrosine (Tyr). Monitoring of patients with PKU requires the measurement of Phe in plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or in dried blood spots (DBS) using different techniques to adjust treatment strategy. The objective of this study was to evaluate Phe levels in DBS measured by two different methods and compare them with Phe levels measured in plasma by HPLC. We analyzed 89 blood samples from 47 PKU patients by two different methods: fluorometric method developed in-house (method A) and the commercially available PerkinElmer® Neonatal Phenylalanine Kit (method B) and in plasma by HPLC. The mean Phe levels by method A, method B, and HPLC were 430.4±39.9μmol/L, 439.3±35.4μmol/L, and 442.2±41.6μmol/L, respectively. The correlation values between HPLC and methods A and B were 0.990 and 0.974, respectively (p < 0.001 for both). Our data suggest that methods A and B are useful alternatives for monitoring Phe levels in patients with PKU, with method A being in closer agreement with the reference standard (HPLC).

High-Risk Screening and Diagnosis of Inborn Errors of Metabolism: A Practical Guide for Laboratories

Abstract Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are a large and heterogeneous group of genetic diseases. In most of these conditions, the presence of variants in specific genes leads to enzyme deficiencies that affect a particular metabolic step. The number of laboratories dedicated to the study of IEM is very limited worldwide, and its multiplication is urgently required for a more effective diagnosis. With the scarcity of specialized centers, the diagnosis of affected individuals comes too late or does not happen at all. Moreover, the biological samples have to travel long distances, compromising its quality and delaying still more the diagnosis. In this work, we suggest a practical guide for a basic biochemical laboratory to get involved in the study of IEM. This proposal was based on already described metabolic tests and involves the need of just a few, simple, and affordable instruments that can give an enormous quantity of information about the possible metabolic defect faced, such as a spectrophotofluorometer and a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) instrument. The procedures proposed can be customized and adapted to particular needs and situations, which make it especially useful for developing countries.

Validation of a Multiplex Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Detection of Selected Lysosomal Storage Diseases in Dried Blood Spots

Abstract Background: Interest in screening methods for lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) has increased in recent years, since early diagnosis and treatment are essential to prevent or attenuate the onset of symptoms and the complications of these diseases. In the current work, we evaluated the performance of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) for the detection of some LSDs, aiming the future use of this methodology for the screening of these disorders. Methods: Standard curves and quality control dried blood spots were assayed to evaluate the precision, linearity, and accuracy. A total of 150 controls were grouped according to age and subjected to measurement of lysosomal enzymes deficient in Niemann-Pick A/B, Krabbe, Gaucher, Fabry, Pompe, and Mucopolysaccharidosis type I diseases. Samples from 59 affected patients with a diagnosis of LSDs previously confirmed by fluorimetric methods were analyzed. Results: Data from standard calibration demonstrated good linearity and accuracy and the intra- and interassay precisions varied from 1.17% to 11.60% and 5.39% to 31.24%, respectively. Except for galactocerebrosidase and ?-l-iduronidase, enzyme activities were significantly higher in newborns compared to children and adult controls. Affected patients presented enzymatic activities significantly lower compared to all control participants. Conclusion: Our results show that MS/MS is a promising methodology, suitable for the screening of LSDs, but accurate diagnoses will depend on its correlation with other biochemical and/or molecular analyses.

Enzymatic method for branched chain alpha-ketoacid determination: application to rapid analysis of urine and plasma samples from maple syrup urine disease patients

A new method for the determination of branched-chain alpha-ketoacid concentration using lactate dehydrogenase (E C 1.1.1.27) isozyme C4 (LDH) C4) from mouse testes is proposed. The assay is performed on urine and plasma without previous treatment. Alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate are determined on the same sample using glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH,EC 1.4.1.2) and lactate dehydrogenase isozyme A4 (LDH5) respectively and subtracted from the total alpha-ketoacid concentration obtained with LDH C4. This value corresponds to the branched chain alpha-ketoacid. Results were linear within the concentration range 8 to 170 mumoles/L. Detection limit was 8 mumoles/L. Analytical recovery was higher than 91 per cent. For microplate assays, recoveries were higher than 84 per cent and the detection limit was 20 mumoles/L. Determinations performed with GDH, LDH A4 and LDH C4 allow differentiation of E3 deficiency from other clinical phenotypes of maple syrup urine disease. The method is simple and fast, and adaptation to microplates would allow screening of newborns.

Deficiencia de la 2-metilacetoacetil-CoA tiolasa mitocondrial en Argentina / Mitochondrial 2-methylacetoacetyl-CoA thiolase deficiency in Argentina

A partir de la descripción de dos pares de hermanos, pertenecientes a familias no emparentadas, una argentina con antecedentes de consanguinidad y de ancestros irlandeses y la otra oriunda del Paraguay, en quienes se reconoció la deficiencia de la 2-metilacetoacetil-CoA tiolasa mitocondrial, comúnmente conocida como la deficiencia de la Beta-cetotiolasa (DCT; McKusick 203750; EC 2.3.1.9), intentamos delinear las consecuencias clínicas y bioquímicas de este defecto genético en el sexto paso del catabolismo de la isoleucina. La expresión fenotípica que presentaron los pacientes, correspondió a la forma clásica de DCT; el cuadro clínico uniforme se inició entre los 7 y 15 meses de edad y comprendió esencialmente, una asociación de uno o varios severos ataques cetoacidóticos e hiperglucemia constatada en dos de ellos. La demonstración por cromatografía en capa delgada de la tiglilglicina, dinitrofenilhidrazona de la butanona, aminoacidemia y aminoaciduria normales y un perfil único de ácidos orgánicos obtenido por cromatografía en fase gaseosa y espectrometría de masa (CG/EM) con excreción de grandes cantidades de los metabolitos característicos de la enfermedad, 2-metil-3-hidroxibutirato, 2-metil-acetato, tiglilglicina y 2-etilhidracrilato permitieron establecer el diagnóstico bioquímico de la DCT. El ensayo de la Beta-cetotiolasa en linfocitos y polimorfos nucleares de la única sobreviviente (VT), demostró una falta de activación por el ión K+ cuando se utilizó el acetoacetil-CoA como sustrato. Esta primera comunicación argentina sobre la DCT, permite inscribir tres aspectos ampliatorios respecto a las referencias previas: incorpora otros distintos orígenes étnicos de los pacientes, señala un análisis morfológico de material de autopsia sin cambios estructurales en cerebro, hígado y riñon y marca en la paciente VT, una disociación entre una clínica asintomática a partir de los 7 años y la persistente anormalidad bioquímica hasta la edad actual de 16 años. El conocimiento de la existencia de estas patologías en nuestro medio, aunado a la disponibilidad y acceso a la CG/EM de alta precisión y rapidez, permitirán reconocimientos precoces y mejores resultados terapéuticos.