Direct chemical ionization-mass spectrometric profiling of urine in premenstrual syndrome

In search of the pathophysiological background of premenstrual syndrome, direct chemical ionization-mass spectrometric profiling was applied to urine samples from 17 patients and 18 control subjects, collected on days 11 and 25 of the menstrual cycle. Oestrogenic compounds and hippuric acid were found to be involved in differences between these groups. Quotient profiles calculated for each subject from their profiles of days 11 and 25 showed cycle day-dependent group differences. Masses accounting for these differences between patients and control subjects indicate the involvement of unsaturated heterocyclic compounds in premenstrual syndrome.