title: Steroid biochemistry.
abstract: Accurate analysis of steroid hormones represents an essential part in the evaluation of a patient with disorders or differences in sex development. Analytical methods based on mass spectrometry (MS) have become the state-of-the-art methodology allowing for the most specific qualitative and quantitative determination of steroid hormones and their metabolites. Liquid chromatography linked with tandem MS (LC-MS/MS) allows for rapid as well as highly specific and sensitive targeted steroid hormone analysis of multiple analytes from a single sample. Urinary steroid proﬁle analysis by gas chromatography (GC)-MS is a non-invasive diagnostic approach and provides qualitative and quantitative data on the global excretion of steroid hormone metabolites. GC-MS remains the most powerful discovery tool for defining inborn errors of steroidogenesis, whereas LC-MS/MS represents a highly sensitive and specific method for targeted steroid hormone analysis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Laboratory for Translational Hormone Analytics in Pediatric Endocrinology, Steroid Research and Mass Spectrometry Unit, Centre of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kamrath
authors.forename: Stefan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wudy
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krone
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones