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A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the evaluation of intestinal permeability.

Lostia AM, Lionetto L, Principessa L, Evangelisti M, Gamba A, Villa MP, Simmaco M

Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche - Unità di Diagnostica Molecolare Avanzata, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea, II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via di Grottarossa, 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy.

OBJECTIVES: Lactulose to mannitol ratio (L/M) in urine is used as a non invasive assay to measure intestinal permeability. We describe here a rapid, specific and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the measurement of these compounds in urine of children affected by abdominal recurrent pain (ARP). DESIGN AND METHODS: The study has been performed on 50 children from the Pediatric Unit. The chromatographic separation was accomplished by using an NH(2)-column, the detection with a Q-Trap 2000 system. RESULTS: Multiple calibration curve exhibited consistent linearity and reproducibility. Linear responses were observed in the concentration range 0-400 microg/mL for both mannitol and lactulose. Limits of detection were 12.5 mg/L for lactulose and 1.25 mg/L for mannitol with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10. CONCLUSIONS: The comparison of L/M values of healthy children with those found in children affected by idiopathic ARP demonstrates that in the latter subjects an alteration of intestinal permeability occurs. The method can represent a useful tool to monitor the intestinal functionality in children with ARP conditions and help for an accurate patient discrimination for diet restrictions.

Published 16 June 2008 in Clin Biochem, 41(10): 887-92.
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