Background: Studies have shown that
melamine may be associated with
urolithiasis. A more sensitive method is needed to analyze
melamine in
urinary stones to identify potential causes of
urolithiasis.Methods: Here we compare the analytical methods of detecting
melamine in
urinary stones by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and matrix-assisted
laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS) in the laboratory and clinic. First, we established the
melamine detection limit in
melamine cyanurate standard by the methods of FTIR spectrophotometer and MALDI-TOF MS. Subsequently, we applied these two methods to 54 adult patients with upper urinary tract
calcium urolithiasis.Results: We found that the detection limit of
melamine in
melamine cyanurate standard by MALD-TOF MS was~10,000-fold more sensitive than FTIR.We applied both instruments to 54 stone specimens from 54
calcium urolithias is patients. In those without distinctive
melamine pattern in the FTIR spectra,
melamine could be detected by MALD-TOF MS in an additional 12 out of 42 subjects' stone specimens (28.6%). Compared to MALD-TOF MS negative subjects (
n = 30), those positive subjects (n = 12) excreted significantly higher urinary
melamine levels (P <0.05).Conclusion: Compared to FTIR,MALDI-TOFMS is amore sensitive method in detecting the content of
melamine in
melamine-containing
kidney stones