Quantification of leukotriene B4 glucuronide in human urine.

We have developed a method for measuring leukotriene B4 glucuronide, a marker of systemic leukotriene B4 biosynthesis, in human urine. This method involves the separation of two positional isomers of leukotriene B4 glucuronide by high-performance liquid chromatography, followed by hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase and then leukotriene B4 quantification by enzyme immunoassay after purification by high-performance liquid chromatography. One of two positional isomers of leukotriene B4 glucuronide was predominantly present in urine. The concentration of the isomer increased in urine from aspirin-intolerant asthma patients after aspirin challenge. Urinary leukotriene E4 and leukotriene B4 glucuronide concentrations in 13 normal healthy adults were 94.6 pg/mg-creatinine (median) and 22.3 pg/mg-creatinine, respectively. Urinary LTE4 concentration increased during the first 3h after allergen inhalation in atopic patients. However, allergen-induced bronchoconstriction was not associated with an increased concentration of LTB4 glucuronide in urine. The method enabled us to precisely determine urinary leukotriene B4 glucuronide concentration.