The work describes and compares different analytical approaches based on high performance separation methods developed for sensitive determination of clinically important collagen and elastin cross-links in various body fluids and tissues. As the most effective separation techniques for this reason were utilized high performance liquid chromatography, capillary zone electrophoresis and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography. The suggested methods were validated and optimized for separation and quantitative analysis of pentosidine, pyridinolines and desmosines as one the most diagnostically useful biomarkers of connective tissue degradation. Successful application of the methods in clinical practice is documented by examples of such analyses using samples of patients with rheumatic and other metabolic diseases.

Institute of Rheumatology Experimental Connective Tissue Research Laboratory Prague

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