Interdisciplinary Social Research

Steroids have crucial functions in maternal physiological changes and in neonatal transition at birth, but the analytical difficulties in quantifying these hormones are due to low concentrations, structural similarities and complexity of biological samples. Recent advances in simultaneous determination of four important steroid hormones (cortisol, progesterone, estradiol and androgens) in maternal and neonatal samples using LC–MS/MS technique and analytical challenges and future perspectives are presented. A comprehensive literature search was performed, especially regarding the LC–MS/MS methods, chromatographic optimization, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), and the sample preparation process of serum, plasma, cord blood and dried blood spots (DBS). Advancements in LC–MS/MS technology, have led to sensitive, high selectivity and high throughput profiling of steroids at low concentrations. Optimized chromatography, MRM transitions and isotope dilution provide increased quantitative reliability. However, there are some drawbacks such as matrix effect, suppression of ions, isobaric interference, small sample volume, and lack of standardization. In some clinical situations, better steroid profile may be helpful for detecting complications of pregnancy before they occur and may even detect neonatal endocrine disorders which would lead to better neonatal and maternal care. The continued application of LC–MS/MS in clinical work also suggests the use of precise determination of hormones in clinical applications such as precision medicine, neonatal screening, and in healthcare systems of limited resources, where precise evaluation of the hormones could help to improve the early intervention, diagnosis and evidence-based care of mothers and children.