Separation and determination of saturated very-long-chain free fatty acids in plasma of patients with adrenoleukodystrophy using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis

An improved method was developed for the isolation of very-long-chain free fatty acids (VLCFFAs) in plasma and their separation and determination by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method includes sample clean-up using solid-phase extraction, fluorophoric labelling of the FFAs and reversed-phase HPLC separation. The solid-phase extraction was carried out with aminopropyl-bonded phase columns. The FFAs were then derivatized with 9-anthryldiazomethane (fluorescent) reagent and separated by HPLC on an RP-18 column with methanol as the mobile phase. Using this method, the concentrations of C20:0, C22:0, C24:0 and C26:0 were determined in the plasma of five adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) patients, one obligatory heterozygote, four healthy male volunteers and one child with cerebral leukodystrophy but without any other ALD symptoms. Statistically significant differences were found in the levels of C24 and C26 and in the ratios C24/C22 and C26/C22 in ALD patients and in normal controls. The values were higher in patients with X-ALD. This method therefore provides a rapid and accurate procedure for the laboratory confirmation of X-ALD.