Design and Validation of a Sensitive Multisteroid LC-MS/MS Assay for Routine Clinical Use: One-Step Sample Preparation with Phospholipid Removal and Comparison to Immunoassays

November 2022 in “ International Journal of Molecular Sciences ”

Valentin Braun, Hermann Stuppner, Lorenz Risch, Christoph Seger

LC-MS/MS immunoassays cortisol estradiol testosterone DHEA androstenedione phospholipid removal liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry dehydroepiandrosterone

From the encyclopedia

Hydrocortisone →

a synthetic cortisol used for anti-inflammatory effects

Estradiol →

an estrogen promoting hair regrowth more commonly used in women

dehydroepiandrosterone →

Studysummary This study found that LC-MS/MS assays provided more reliable and precise steroid measurements in human serum compared to traditional immunoassays, particularly at lower concentrations.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study developed and validated a sensitive multisteroid LC-MS/MS assay for routine clinical use, highlighting its superior accuracy and reliability over traditional immunoassays (IAs) for measuring steroids in human serum. The method features a one-step sample preparation with phospholipid removal, achieving high extraction recovery rates and excellent reproducibility. It demonstrated good agreement with IAs for some analytes like cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone, but revealed significant biases for others, such as DHEA and androstenedione, indicating overestimation in IAs. The study suggests replacing current IAs with the LC-MS/MS method to improve clinical decision-making accuracy, validated through extensive testing with over 1,000 serum samples.

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Research cited in this study

2 / 2 results

The Efficacy and Safety of 17α-Estradiol (Ell-Cranell Alpha 0.025%) Solution on Female Pattern Hair Loss: Single Center, Open-Label, Non-Comparative, Phase IV Study

research The Efficacy and Safety of 17α-Estradiol (Ell-Cranell Alpha 0.025%) Solution on Female Pattern Hair Loss: Single Center, Open-Label, Non-Comparative, Phase IV Study

21 citations , January 2012 in “Annals of Dermatology”

This study reported that Ell-Cranell® alpha 0.025% solution significantly increased hair counts and diameter in Korean women with female pattern hair loss over an 8-month period, showing both efficacy and safety.

Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Minoxidil and Topical Alfatradiol in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

research Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Topical Minoxidil and Topical Alfatradiol in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

56 citations , April 2007 in “Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft”

This study found that 12 months of minoxidil treatment increased hair density and thickness in women with androgenetic alopecia, while alfatradiol primarily stabilized hair loss.