Deuterium-labeled Steroids for Study in Humans

Deuterium-labeled 1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3,17b-diol was used for the estimation of estrogen production rates during normal pregnancy.The results for three patients are concordant with the available reports in the literature.Isotope dilution data were obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.The steroids were monitored by conventional scanning of the molecular weight range at 20 e.v. or 70 e.v. and at selected m/e values at 20 e.v. by the use of an accelerating voltage alternator.Recent advances in gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric techniques have made it reasonable to reinvestigate the use of stable isotopes, for example deuterium (l-3), to study the fate of steroid hormones in human subjects.The use of deuterated compounds in contrast to compounds labeled with radioactive isotopes allows repeated clinical studies on a pregnant or nonpregnant patient which otherwise, for ethical reasons, would be impossible to perform.The purpose of this study was to determine whether the isotope dilution technique, with a deuterium-labeled steroid, was applicable for the estimation of estrogen production rates during normal pregnancy. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE