Development of a rapid UPLC–MS/MS determination of urine sulfocysteine for diagnosis of sulfocysteinuria and molybdenum co-factor deficiencies

Abstract

Aim: Molybdenum co-factor deficiencies and isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency are rare autosomal recessively inherited diseases characterized by severe psychomotor impairment, intractable seizures, dislocated lens and dysmorphic facial features. The biochemical diagnosis of these diseases requires the determination of urine sulfocysteine. Materials & methods: Urine sulfocysteine was quantified by an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–MS/MS assay. The method was validated for linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery and stability. Results & conclusion: Total imprecision of accuracy was less than 6%. Intra-assay and inter-assay precisions were less than 5%. The recovery was higher than 98%. The method is inexpensive, fast, accurate and has been successfully used for identifying five molybdenum co-factor deficient and six sulfite oxidase deficient patients since deployed.