Serum markers in alkaptonuria: simultaneous analysis of homogentisic acid, tyrosine and nitisinone by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Background Alkaptonuria is a rare debilitating autosomal recessive disorder of tyrosine metabolism, where deficiency of homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase results in increased homogentisic acid. Homogentisic acid is deposited as an ochronotic pigment in connective tissues, especially cartilage, leading to a severe early onset form of osteoarthritis, increased renal and prostatic stone formation and hardening of heart vessels. Treatment with the orphan drug, nitisinone, an inhibitor of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase has been shown to reduce urinary excretion of homogentisic acid. Method A reverse phase liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed to simultaneously analyse serum homogentisic acid, tyrosine and nitisinone. Using matrix-matched calibration standards, two product ion transitions were identified for each compound (homogentisic acid, tyrosine, nitisinone) and their respective isotopically labelled internal standards (C-13(6)-homogentisic acid, d(2)-tyrosine, C-13(6)-nitisinone). Results Intrabatch accuracy was 94-108% for homogentisic acid, 95-109% for tyrosine and 89-106% for nitisinone; interbatch accuracy (n=20) was 88-108% for homogentisic acid, 91-104% for tyrosine and 88-103% for nitisinone. Precision, both intra- and interbatch were <12% for homogentisic acid and tyrosine, and <10% for nitisinone. Matrix effects observed with acidified serum were normalized by the internal standard (<10% coefficient of variation). Homogentisic acid, tyrosine and nitisinone proved stable after 24 h at room temp, three freeze-thaw cycles and 24h at 4?. The assay was linear to 500mol/L homogentisic acid, 2000mol/L tyrosine and 10mol/L nitisinone; increased range was not required for clinical samples and no carryover was observed. Conclusions The method developed and validated shows good precision, accuracy and linearity appropriate for the monitoring of alkaptonuria patients, pre- and post-nitisinone therapy.