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Plasma free and total carnitine measured in children by tandem mass spectrometry

Lookup NU author(s): Jose Osorio Orozco, Dr Morteza Pourfarzam

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Abstract

Free and total carnitine quantification is important as a complementary test for the diagnosis of unusual metabolic diseases, including fatty acid degradation disorders. The present study reports a new method for the quantification of free and total carnitine in dried plasma specimens by isotope dilution electrospray tandem mass spectrometry with sample derivatization. Carnitine is determined by looking for the precursor of ions of m/z = 103 of N-butylester derivative, and the method is validated by comparison with radioenzymatic assay. We obtained an inter- and intra-day assay coefficient of variation of 4.3 and 2.3, respectively. Free and total carnitine was analyzed in 309 dried plasma spot samples from children ranging in age from newborn to 14 years using the new method, which was found to be suitable for calculating reference age-related values for free and total carnitine (less than one month: 19.3 ± 2.4 and 23.5 ± 2.9; one to twelve months: 28.8 ± 10.2 and 35.9 ± 11.4; one to seven years: 30.7 ± 10.3 and 38.1 ± 11.9; seven to 14 years: 33.7 ± 11.6, and 43.1 ± 13.8 μM, respectively). No difference was found between males and females. A significant difference was observed between neonates and the other age groups. We compare our data with reference values in the literature, most of them obtained by radioenzymatic assay. However, this method is laborious and time consuming. The electrospray tandem mass spectrometry method presented here is a reliable, rapid and automated procedure for carnitine quantitation.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Osorio JH; Pourfarzam M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research

Year: 2002

Volume: 35

Issue: 11

Pages: 1265-1271

ISSN (print): 0100-879X

ISSN (electronic): 1678-4510

Publisher: Associacao Brasileira de Divulgacao Cientifica

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-879X2002001100003

DOI: 10.1590/S0100-879X2002001100003

PubMed id: 12426625


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