Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit
Objective: Measurements utilizing commercially available sets of reagents for determination of steroid hormone profiles by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) have become increasingly important for routine laboratories. However, method-specific publications of reference interva...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Bioscientifica
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Endocrine Connections |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/13/1/EC-23-0225.xml |
| _version_ | 1797391479399776256 |
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| author | Sonja Kunz Xiao Wang Uta Ferrari Michael Drey Marily Theodoropoulou Katharina Schilbach Martin Reincke Margit Heier Annette Peters Wolfgang Koenig Tanja Zeller Barbara Thorand Martin Bidlingmaier |
| author_facet | Sonja Kunz Xiao Wang Uta Ferrari Michael Drey Marily Theodoropoulou Katharina Schilbach Martin Reincke Margit Heier Annette Peters Wolfgang Koenig Tanja Zeller Barbara Thorand Martin Bidlingmaier |
| author_sort | Sonja Kunz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Measurements utilizing commercially available sets of reagents for determination of steroid hormone profiles by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) have become increasingly important for routine laboratories. However, method-specific publications of reference intervals obtained from sufficiently large studies are often missing.
Methods: After validation of performance characteristics, a widely available kit for steroid analysis by LC-MS/MS was used to measure concentrations of 15 endogenous steroids (aldosterone, cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, 21-deoxycortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, progesterone) in more than 500 blood samples from a population-based study. While randomly selected from a larger cohort, the samples equally represented both sexes and covered a wide range of adult age groups. Age- and sex-specific reference intervals were calculated, and correlation with BMI was assessed.
Results: Performance characteristics of the assay matched expectations for 9 of 15 steroids. For most of them, reference intervals obtained from our study population were comparable to those reported by others, with age and sex being the major determinants. A sex-specific correlation with BMI was found for seven steroids. We identified limitations regarding sensitivity of the method for quantification of progesterone in males and postmenopausal females. Concentrations of aldosterone, 21-deoxycortisol, estradiol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, and dihydrotestosterone could not be quantified in a large percentage of samples.
Conclusions: The reference intervals for nine steroids will support meaningful interpretation for steroid profiles as measured by a widely used kit for LC-MS/MS-based quantification. Laboratories using such kits must be aware of potential limitations in sensitivity for some steroids included in the profile.
Significance Statement
Quantification of steroid hormones is a cornerstone for diagnosis of several diseases. Commonly used immunoassays have limitations in specificity. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a promising alternative, particularly if methods are harmonized across laboratories. The use of kits from commercial suppliers might support this. Clinical interpretation of steroid concentrations requires availability of appropriate reference intervals (RIs), but studies on RIs reported in the literature differ in preanalytical and analytical procedures. Here, we provide RIs for steroids measured by a widely available kit under preanalytical conditions mirroring common clinical practice. Such RIs might facilitate interpretation for those using the same method and comparable conditions in clinical routine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:33:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5c662beeeee4acda3054b385de41eed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2049-3614 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:33:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Bioscientifica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Endocrine Connections |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5c662beeeee4acda3054b385de41eed2023-12-14T09:44:53ZengBioscientificaEndocrine Connections2049-36142023-12-01131113https://doi.org/10.1530/EC-23-0225Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kitSonja Kunz0Xiao Wang1Uta Ferrari2Michael Drey3Marily Theodoropoulou4Katharina Schilbach5Martin Reincke6Margit Heier7Annette Peters8Wolfgang Koenig9Tanja Zeller10Barbara Thorand11Martin Bidlingmaier12Department of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyInstitute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; KORA Study Centre, University Hospital of Augsburg, Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany; German Heart Centre Munich, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany Department of General and Interventional Cardiology, University Heart Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, GermanyDepartment of Medicine IV, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Munich, GermanyObjective: Measurements utilizing commercially available sets of reagents for determination of steroid hormone profiles by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) have become increasingly important for routine laboratories. However, method-specific publications of reference intervals obtained from sufficiently large studies are often missing. Methods: After validation of performance characteristics, a widely available kit for steroid analysis by LC-MS/MS was used to measure concentrations of 15 endogenous steroids (aldosterone, cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycortisol, 21-deoxycortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, testosterone, androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, progesterone) in more than 500 blood samples from a population-based study. While randomly selected from a larger cohort, the samples equally represented both sexes and covered a wide range of adult age groups. Age- and sex-specific reference intervals were calculated, and correlation with BMI was assessed. Results: Performance characteristics of the assay matched expectations for 9 of 15 steroids. For most of them, reference intervals obtained from our study population were comparable to those reported by others, with age and sex being the major determinants. A sex-specific correlation with BMI was found for seven steroids. We identified limitations regarding sensitivity of the method for quantification of progesterone in males and postmenopausal females. Concentrations of aldosterone, 21-deoxycortisol, estradiol, 11-deoxycorticosterone, and dihydrotestosterone could not be quantified in a large percentage of samples. Conclusions: The reference intervals for nine steroids will support meaningful interpretation for steroid profiles as measured by a widely used kit for LC-MS/MS-based quantification. Laboratories using such kits must be aware of potential limitations in sensitivity for some steroids included in the profile. Significance Statement Quantification of steroid hormones is a cornerstone for diagnosis of several diseases. Commonly used immunoassays have limitations in specificity. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a promising alternative, particularly if methods are harmonized across laboratories. The use of kits from commercial suppliers might support this. Clinical interpretation of steroid concentrations requires availability of appropriate reference intervals (RIs), but studies on RIs reported in the literature differ in preanalytical and analytical procedures. Here, we provide RIs for steroids measured by a widely available kit under preanalytical conditions mirroring common clinical practice. Such RIs might facilitate interpretation for those using the same method and comparable conditions in clinical routine.https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/13/1/EC-23-0225.xmlreference intervalssteroid hormoneslc-ms/mscommercial kit |
| spellingShingle | Sonja Kunz Xiao Wang Uta Ferrari Michael Drey Marily Theodoropoulou Katharina Schilbach Martin Reincke Margit Heier Annette Peters Wolfgang Koenig Tanja Zeller Barbara Thorand Martin Bidlingmaier Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit Endocrine Connections reference intervals steroid hormones lc-ms/ms commercial kit |
| title | Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit |
| title_full | Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit |
| title_fullStr | Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit |
| title_short | Age- and sex-adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit |
| title_sort | age and sex adjusted reference intervals for steroid hormones measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry using a widely available kit |
| topic | reference intervals steroid hormones lc-ms/ms commercial kit |
| url | https://ec.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/ec/13/1/EC-23-0225.xml |
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