Biomaterial Database

Urinary and plasma catecholamines and urinary catecholamine metabolites in pheochromocytoma: diagnostic value in 19 cases. 1994

E A Gerlo, and C Sevens

Department of Clinical Chemistry, Academic Hospital, Vrije Universiteit te Brussel, Belgium.

We review our data on the measurement of catecholamines and their metabolites in 19 patients with pheochromocytoma. All the assays were specific high-performance liquid chromatographic procedures with electrochemical detection. The assay of fractionated metanephrines was 100% sensitive. Normal values for both urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine were found in two asymptomatic patients with pheochromocytoma. Normal values for 3-methoxy-4-hydroxymandelic acid (VMA) were found in two patients with pure epinephrine-secreting tumors and in one patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type II. Plasma catecholamines were usually less increased than their urinary counterparts. We recommend the specific measurement of norepinephrine and epinephrine as the initial test for patients with suggestive symptoms, and specific measurement of normetanephrine and metanephrine for patients in whom an adrenal mass is incidentally found. We argue against the use of total metanephrines, total catecholamines, and VMA because of their lack of diagnostic sensitivity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008676	Metanephrine	Product of epinephrine O-methylation. It is a commonly occurring, pharmacologically and physiologically inactive metabolite of epinephrine.	Metadrenaline
D009377	Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia	A group of autosomal dominant diseases characterized by the combined occurrence of tumors involving two or more ENDOCRINE GLANDS that secrete PEPTIDE HORMONES or AMINES. These neoplasias are often benign but can be malignant. They are classified by the endocrine glands involved and the degree of aggressiveness. The two major forms are MEN1 and MEN2 with gene mutations on CHROMOSOME 11 and CHROMOSOME 10, respectively.	Adenomatosis, Familial Endocrine,Endocrine Neoplasia, Multiple,Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome,Neoplasia, Multiple Endocrine,Neoplasms, Multiple Endocrine,Adenomatosis, Multiple Endocrine,Familial Endocrine Adenomatosis,Multiple Endocrine Adenomatosis,Multiple Endocrine Adenopathy,Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndromes,Multiple Endocrine Neoplasms,Adenomatoses, Familial Endocrine,Adenomatoses, Multiple Endocrine,Adenopathies, Multiple Endocrine,Adenopathy, Multiple Endocrine,Endocrine Adenomatoses, Familial,Endocrine Adenomatoses, Multiple,Endocrine Adenomatosis, Familial,Endocrine Adenomatosis, Multiple,Endocrine Adenopathies, Multiple,Endocrine Adenopathy, Multiple,Endocrine Neoplasms, Multiple,Familial Endocrine Adenomatoses,Multiple Endocrine Adenomatoses,Multiple Endocrine Adenopathies
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D009647	Normetanephrine	A methylated metabolite of norepinephrine that is excreted in the urine and found in certain tissues. It is a marker for tumors.	3-Methoxynoradrenaline,Normetadrenaline,3 Methoxynoradrenaline
D010673	Pheochromocytoma	A usually benign, well-encapsulated, lobular, vascular tumor of chromaffin tissue of the ADRENAL MEDULLA or sympathetic paraganglia. The cardinal symptom, reflecting the increased secretion of EPINEPHRINE and NOREPINEPHRINE, is HYPERTENSION, which may be persistent or intermittent. During severe attacks, there may be HEADACHE; SWEATING, palpitation, apprehension, TREMOR; PALLOR or FLUSHING of the face, NAUSEA and VOMITING, pain in the CHEST and ABDOMEN, and paresthesias of the extremities. The incidence of malignancy is as low as 5% but the pathologic distinction between benign and malignant pheochromocytomas is not clear. (Dorland, 27th ed; DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1298)	Pheochromocytoma, Extra-Adrenal,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytoma,Extra-Adrenal Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytoma, Extra Adrenal,Pheochromocytomas,Pheochromocytomas, Extra-Adrenal
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D002395	Catecholamines	A general class of ortho-dihydroxyphenylalkylamines derived from TYROSINE.	Catecholamine,Sympathin,Sympathins
D002851	Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid	Liquid chromatographic techniques which feature high inlet pressures, high sensitivity, and high speed.	Chromatography, High Performance Liquid,Chromatography, High Speed Liquid,Chromatography, Liquid, High Pressure,HPLC,High Performance Liquid Chromatography,High-Performance Liquid Chromatography,UPLC,Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography,Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid,High-Performance Liquid Chromatographies,Liquid Chromatography, High-Performance
D004837	Epinephrine	The active sympathomimetic hormone from the ADRENAL MEDULLA. It stimulates both the alpha- and beta- adrenergic systems, causes systemic VASOCONSTRICTION and gastrointestinal relaxation, stimulates the HEART, and dilates BRONCHI and cerebral vessels. It is used in ASTHMA and CARDIAC FAILURE and to delay absorption of local ANESTHETICS.	Adrenaline,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Adrenaline Acid Tartrate,Adrenaline Bitartrate,Adrenaline Hydrochloride,Epifrin,Epinephrine Acetate,Epinephrine Bitartrate,Epinephrine Hydrochloride,Epinephrine Hydrogen Tartrate,Epitrate,Lyophrin,Medihaler-Epi,Acetate, Epinephrine