Effect of atorvastatin on plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in patients with non-ischaemic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor, may contribute to endothelial dysfunction in chronic heart failure (CHF). Since statins upregulate eNOS and ameliorate endothelial dysfunction in non-ischaemic CHF, we hypothesized that this may be in part through modification of ADMA. AIM: To evaluate the effect of atorvastatin on the relationship between ADMA and endothelial function in non-ischaemic CHF. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with CHF (ejection fraction <40%, New York Heart Association Functional Classes II and III) were randomised to atorvastatin treatment (40 mg) or placebo once daily for 6 weeks in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study. Plasma ADMA and l-arginine levels were measured by HPLC. Endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation and invasive forearm plethysmography. RESULTS: Post-statin therapy, endothelial function was improved (p<0.05) independent of LDL-cholesterol reductions, but no changes were observed in ADMA levels or the l-arginine to ADMA ratio. There was a trend for ADMA to inversely correlate with endothelial function at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term atorvastatin treatment in non-ischaemic CHF improves endothelial function but has no effect on ADMA or the l-arginine to ADMA ratio. Our finding suggests that the observed statin-induced improvements in endothelial function are likely mediated via alternative pathways.

Analytical and clinical validation of an LC-MS/MS method to measure thiopurine S-methyltransferase activity by quantifying d3-6-MMP.

BACKGROUND: Identification of patients with thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) deficiency prior to thiopurine drug therapy has become routine clinical practice worldwide. To measure TPMT activity, traditional radiochemical assays have been replaced by chromatographic methods. METHOD: Inspired by the increasing number of isotope labelled sources that may be of benefit for the TPMT assay, a new LC-MS/MS method for TPMT activity was developed and validated. Isotope labelled d3-S-adenosyl-l-methionine (d3-SAM) was selected for the enzymatic methylation of mercaptopurine during sample incubation; d3-6-methylmercaptopurine (d3-6-MMP) with d2-2, 8-hypoxanthine as the internal standard was quantified to ascertain individual TPMT activity. RESULTS: The validation of the analytical part of this method showed good linearity (coefficient of determination 0.9999 in the range of 1-500 ng/mL) with the intra-and inter-day impression CV% between 7.6% and 9.1% and 3.7% and 9.2%, respectively. Recovery ranged from 94.9% to 112.3%. The specificity of the enzymatic reaction was validated by using 108 clinical check samples. After compared with traditional radiochemical assay and genotype results, all homozygous and heterozygous deficiency clinical checks fitted into the nominal groups, inter-batch and intra-batch impression CV% were between 2.3% and 9.7%. CONCLUSION: With the inclusion of isotope labelled substrate, interfering non-enzymatic methylation no longer results in potential false assignment of abnormal patients. Furthermore, the method can be applied to patients who have already been prescribed thiopurine drugs. This new LC-MS/MS is therefore a favourable clinical routine application to test TPMT activity, as it shows excellent performance in identifying patients with TPMT deficiency.

Quantitation of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in dried blood spots by 2D LC-MS/MS without derivatization and correlation with serum in adult and pediatric studies.

BACKGROUND: Demand for measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) is growing and dried blood spot (DBS) sampling is attractive as samples are easier to collect, transport and store. METHODS: A 2D LC-MS/MS assay without derivatization was developed. DBS punches (3.2 mm) were ultrasonicated with d6-25OHD3 in 70% methanol followed by hexane extraction, dry-down and reconstitution. The assay was validated and applied to two studies comparing whole blood adult DBS with serum samples (n = 40) and neonatal whole blood DBS with cord serum samples (n = 80). RESULTS: The assay was validated in whole blood DBS over the range 13-106 nmol/L 25OHD3 and 11-91 nmol/L 25OHD2 with a limit of detection of 3 nmol/L. Intra- and inter-day imprecision was <13% CV and bias <12%. The assay had high recovery and minimal matrix effects. Triplicate DBS study samples had a mean CV of ≤13% for 25OHD3. No 25OHD2 was detected. DBS calculated serum 25OHD3 concentrations correlated strongly with serum concentrations in the adult DBS/serum study (r = 0.94) and moderately in the neonatal DBS/cord serum study (r = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Direct quantitation of 25OHD in DBS by 2D LC-MS/MS without derivatization was found to be an alternative to serum quantitation applicable to clinical research studies on adult DBS samples.

Regional Variation in Analytical Techniques used in the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Porphyria: a Case for Harmonisation?

BACKGROUND: The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) Porphyrin Quality Assurance Program assesses the measurement of urine, faecal, plasma and whole blood porphyrins and their components plus urinary porphobilinogen and delta aminolaevulinic acid and has laboratories enrolled from around the world. It was observed that there was a wide scatter in results submitted to some subsections of the program. METHODS: A detailed questionnaire covering the analytical techniques used in the diagnosis of porphyria was sent to all laboratories enrolled in the RCPA Porphyrin Quality Assurance Program. Additionally, self-enrolment data over a five year period was examined for trends/changes in standardisation, reagent sources and analytical technique. RESULTS: Twenty of the 45 laboratories enrolled in the Porphyrin Quality Assurance Program completed the survey, providing a snapshot of the analytical techniques used world-wide. Post survey self enrolment data indicated only little or no noticeable changes to analytical standardisation of techniques despite the continual lack of agreement of results in subsections of the External Quality Assurance program. CONCLUSIONS: While some aspects of porphyria testing are relatively consistent between laboratories, other diagnostic techniques vary widely. A wide variety of individualised reference intervals and reporting techniques is currently in use world-wide. While most of the participants in the survey are regional reference centres specialising in the diagnosis of porphyria and, as such, their diagnostic capability is not in question, international guidelines or global harmonisation of analytical techniques should allow better inter-laboratory comparisons to be made, ultimately improving diagnostic accuracy.

Comparison of two plasma urate assays in patients receiving vitamin C supplementation.

The aim of this study was to compare plasma urate (PU) concentrations using two different assays in patients receiving vitamin C supplementation. PU was measured using two routinely available enzymatic uricase methods: (1) uric acid plus method (ascorbate oxidase assay), and (2) uric acid method (non-ascorbate oxidase assay). Twenty patients receiving allopurinol were randomised to an increase in allopurinol dose or commence vitamin C 500  mg/d on a 1:1 ratio. Twenty patients not receiving allopurinol were randomised to start allopurinol or vitamin C 500  mg/d on a 1:1 ratio. Trough fasting samples for plasma ascorbate and urate were measured weekly until week 8. There was no significant difference in the mean PU measured by the two assays. In patients not receiving supplemental vitamin C the mean PU concentrations were identical for both assays. For patients receiving supplemental vitamin C the mean PU concentrations for the ascorbate oxidase assay was 0.525  mmol/L (SE 0.034) and for the non-ascorbate oxidase assay 0.510  mmol/L (SE 0.033), p = 0.079.There is a small non-significant difference in measured PU in patients receiving supplemental vitamin C between the two assays. The assay which does not include ascorbate oxidase results in consistently lower PU concentrations compared to the assay which includes ascorbate oxidase.

Preanalytical stringency: what factors may confound interpretation of thiopurine S-methyl transferase enzyme activity?

BACKGROUND: Measurement of red blood cell thiopurine S-methyl transferase (TPMT) enzyme activity before commencing thiopurine therapy is recommended to avoid severe bone marrow suppression in TPMT-deficient patients. Patient's samples go through preanalytical transportation and storage steps before measurement. We studied patient's TPMT activity sample data to assess the effect of preanalytical variables including transportation time. METHODS: A total of 8524 TPMT enzyme activity analyses were conducted from 2002 to 2010 in a single laboratory, with samples sent from seven centres throughout New Zealand. TPMT activity was correlated with time of arrival at the reference laboratory, patient gender and age and centre of sample collection. RESULTS: The 6348 (74%) selected TPMT measurements that fulfilled selection criteria ranged from 0 to 25.8 IU/mL. Median delay to sample analysis was 42 h. Median TPMT activity was significantly lower for all centres compared with the reference centre (P < 0.001). Delay in sample arrival was significantly and independently correlated with TPMT enzyme activity (ANCOVA; P < 0.001), which showed a 0.011 (95% CI, 0.008-0.014) IU/mL decrease per extra hour of delay. After correcting for these data, one centre still had a significantly lower TPMT enzyme activity compared with the reference centre. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant negative correlation between TPMT enzyme activity and delay from sample collection to analysis. Transportation time is therefore an important preanalytical variable influencing TPMT activity. Samples from one centre had a lower TPMT activity after correcting for transportation delay, suggesting that other factors related to sample processing may also be relevant.

Biological variation of thiopurine methyltransferase enzyme activity: when has a significant change taken place?

BACKGROUND: Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) enzyme activity is measured before initiating thiopurine therapy to reduce the risk of severe drug-associated myelotoxicity in patients with low enzyme activity. TPMT activity may vary over time in relation to drug treatment and patient clinical condition. What constitutes a significant change in TPMT activity can be derived from biological variation and analytical imprecision. METHODS: A large national laboratory database was used to identify patients with three or more TPMT activity measurements. Variance of TPMT activity was analysed by determining the total coefficient of variation (CVTOT) of repeated measurements and by correlation with parameters including gender and follow-up time. Between-run analytical imprecision (CVa) was determined by replicate analysis (n = 314). RESULTS: Of 7383 patients with TPMT measurements, 136 were identified as having three or more measurements over time (range 3-14). Median CVTOT for individual patient results was 14.5% (range 2.5-36.7%). Analytical imprecision (CVa) was 10.3%. A reference change value (or critical difference) with 95% probability was calculated as 42%. Therefore, a change in measured TPMT activity above 42% should lead to considering sources of variation other than biological variation and analytical imprecision. CONCLUSIONS: TPMT enzyme activity needs to change by at least 42% to determine that a true change has taken place beyond biological variation and analytical imprecision. A single measurement of TPMT activity is sufficient for most clinical purposes.

Trinucleotide repeat variants in the promoter of the thiopurine S-methyltransferase gene of patients exhibiting ultra-high enzyme activity.

Thiopurine S-methyl transferase (TPMT) is a cytosolic enzyme that catalyses the S-methylation of the thiopurine immunosuppressants. To date, 22 variants have been identified that are predictive of decreased TPMT activity. In contrast, no molecular explanation has been found for the 1-2% of Caucasians who exhibit ultra-high TPMT activity. Here, we report the characterization of polymorphisms within a trinucleotide (GCC) repeat element of the TPMT promoter in two patients with inflammatory bowel disease exhibiting the highest TPMT activity from two testing centres. The first patient was heterozygous for a variant allele carrying seven GCC repeats [(GCC)7], whereas the second patient was heterozygous for a variant allele containing five GCC repeats [(GCC)5]. Fifty patients with inflammatory bowel disease with normal TPMT activity were all homozygous for six GCC repeats [(GCC)6]. Of 200 healthy controls, five were found to be heterozygous for the (GCC)7 variant. Within in vitro reporter gene assays, the mean luciferase activities of the (GCC)6, (GCC)7, and (GCC)5 constructs were 8.0+/-0.26, 13.2+/-0.10 and 12.3+/-0.12, respectively. The significant increase in activity observed for (GCC)5 and (GCC)7 compared with (GCC)6 (P-value