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Chromatography of urinary indole derivatives
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Stichting Samenwerking Delftse Ziekenhuizen Delft, The Netherlands.
Journal of Chromatography
|July 29, 1988
Summary
Chromatographic analysis of urine indole derivatives aids in diagnosing carcinoid tumors and monitoring melanoma. Advanced HPLC methods offer promising concurrent analysis of related compounds.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
- Biochemical Analysis
Background:
- Indole derivatives in urine are crucial biomarkers for various clinical conditions.
- Accurate and routine analysis is essential for effective patient management and disease screening.
- Challenges exist due to the instability of certain indole compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss the latest strategies for chromatographic analysis of clinically significant indole derivatives in urine.
- To highlight the diagnostic and monitoring applications of these analyses.
- To assess the potential of emerging chromatographic techniques.
Main Methods:
- Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for enhanced specificity and reference methods.
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with advanced detection methods.
- Direct injection techniques for concurrent analysis of multiple compounds.
Main Results:
- 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, serotonin, and 5-hydroxytryptophan analysis are key for carcinoid tumor screening.
- Eumelanin precursor analysis shows promise for melanoma monitoring and pigmentation disorder screening.
- Tetrahydro-beta-carbolines and melatonin-related indoles require further method development due to compound instability.
Conclusions:
- Routine chromatographic analysis of indole derivatives is vital for clinical diagnostics.
- Advancements in HPLC, particularly for concurrent analysis, are highly promising.
- GC-MS remains valuable for specific and reference analyses, while further method refinement is needed for unstable compounds.