title: A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the evaluation of intestinal permeability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lactulose to mannitol ratio (L/M) in urine is used as a non invasive assay to measure intestinal permeability. We describe here a rapid, specific and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the measurement of these compounds in urine of children affected by abdominal recurrent pain (ARP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study has been performed on 50 children from the Pediatric Unit. The chromatographic separation was accomplished by using an NH(2)-column, the detection with a Q-Trap 2000 system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple calibration curve exhibited consistent linearity and reproducibility. Linear responses were observed in the concentration range 0-400 microg/mL for both mannitol and lactulose. Limits of detection were 12.5 mg/L for lactulose and 1.25 mg/L for mannitol with a signal-to-noise ratio of 10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The comparison of L/M values of healthy children with those found in children affected by idiopathic ARP demonstrates that in the latter subjects an alteration of intestinal permeability occurs. The method can represent a useful tool to monitor the intestinal functionality in children with ARP conditions and help for an accurate patient discrimination for diet restrictions.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche - Unità di Diagnostica Molecolare Avanzata, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea, II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Via di Grottarossa, 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lostia
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lionetto
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Principessa
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evangelisti
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamba
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simmaco
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003248:Constipation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology*; D007792:Lactulose / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000652:urine; D013058:Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008353:Mannitol; D007792:Lactulose