A stable
isotope dilution method was developed for the measurement of
2-hydroxyphytanic acid and
2-oxophytanic acid in plasma. In plasma from healthy individuals and from patients with
Refsum's disease,
2-hydroxyphytanic acid was found at levels less than 0.2 mumol/l, whereas the
acid accumulated in plasma from patients with
rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, generalized peroxisomal dysfunction, and a single peroxisomal beta-oxidation
enzyme deficiency. In plasma from both healthy controls and patients with
peroxisomal disorders,
2-oxophytanic acid was undetectable. Four different groups of diseases were characterized with a defective
phytanic acid alpha-oxidation and/or
pristanic acid beta-oxidation: 1)
Refsum's disease, with a defect at
phytanic acid alpha-hydroxylation; 2)
rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata, with a defect at 2-hydroxyphytanic
acid decarboxylation; 3) generalized
peroxisomal disorders, with defects at 2-hydroxyphytanic
acid decarboxylation and at
pristanic acid beta-oxidation; 4) single peroxisomal beta-oxidation
enzyme deficiencies, with a defect at
pristanic acid beta-oxidation, resulting in an impaired
phytanic acid alpha-oxidation by inhibition. The results indicate that 2-hydroxyphytanic
acid decarboxylation and
pristanic acid beta-oxidation take place in peroxisomes.