Histamine metabolite to basal serum tryptase ratios in systemic mastocytosis and hereditary alpha tryptasemia using a validated LC-MS/MS approach

OBJECTIVES: Histamine, mainly produced in mast cells (MC), plays a key role in allergy and inflammation. Measuring its urinary metabolites, N-methylhistamine (NMH) and 1-methyl-4-imidazoleacetic acid (MIMA), is essential in assessing histamine-related pathologies. Patients with concurrent systemic mastocytosis (SM) and hereditary alpha tryptasemia (HαT) may show increased MC mediator-related symptom severity. We developed and validated a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay to quantify histamine, NMH, and MIMA, and explored their correlation with basal serum tryptase (BST) levels.

METHODS: Using an in-matrix double derivatization, enhancing extraction, we analyzed urinary histamine, NMH, and MIMA with an online solid-phase extraction LC-MS/MS system. Analytical method validation assessed recovery, imprecision, and detection limits. For clinical validation, correlation analysis between BST levels, NMH, and MIMA in SM and HαT patients was performed.

RESULTS: The assay demonstrated recoveries>98 %, imprecision<3 %, and limits of quantification at 2.0 nmol/L for histamine, 0.53 nmol/L for NMH, and 0.011 μmol/L for MIMA. Patients with a combination of SM and HαT showed a 2.6-3.6 fold increase in BST compared to those with SM alone. A BST/NMH ratio>0.129 predicted HαT with 91.3 % sensitivity and 85.6 % specificity, and a BST/MIMA ratio>7.46 predicted HαT with 89.9 % sensitivity and 86.0 % specificity, independent of SM status.

CONCLUSIONS: Our LC-MS/MS method provides highly accurate and efficient quantification of histamine, NMH, and MIMA. Integrating BST/NMH and BST/MIMA ratios in diagnostic protocols enhances detection of HαT in MC-related disorders, supporting improved diagnostics and tailored patient management.