High-Resolution, Accurate-Mass (HRAM) Mass Spectrometry Urine Steroid Profiling in the Diagnosis of Adrenal Disorders

Adrenal steroid analysis plays an important role in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome, disorders of steroidogenesis, and adrenal tumors.  The analytical sensitivity and specificity for steroid assays have evolved over time from individual immunoassays to multiplexed mass spectrometry-based methods.  This transition has highlighted a need for simultaneous measurement of multiple steroids and their various metabolites to achieve the best diagnostic accuracy.  Therefore, metabolomic profiling performed by liquid chromatography, high-resolution accurate-mass mass spectrometry might be poised to make a substantial impact on endocrine laboratory testing.  The December 2017 Issue of Clinical Chemistry describes such a method used to determine sex- and age-based reference intervals and to perform a limited assay evaluation in patients with different adrenal diseases.