Biomaterial Database

Chromogranin A and chromogranin B are sensitive circulating markers for phaeochromocytoma. 1997

M Stridsberg, and E S Husebye

Department of Clinical Chemistry, Uppsala University, Sweden.

Specific assays for measurements of circulating chromogranin (Cg) A, CgB, CgC and pancreastatin (Ps) have recently been developed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of these markers in diagnosing and following the effects of treatment of patients with phaeochromocytoma, and to compare the results with those concerning other biochemical markers. CgA was elevated in 19/21 (90%), CgB in 17/21 (81%), Ps in 9/21 (43%) and neuropeptide Y in 9/21 (43%) of the patients. Urinary noradrenaline was increased in 19/21 (90%) and urinary adrenaline in 17/19 (89%) of the patients. All patients had increased levels of either urinary catecholamines or plasma chromogranins. In one patient levels of CgA, CgB and Ps were measured at frequent intervals before, during and after surgery. The CgA level fell to normal shortly after the tumour was removed, whereas the CgB level decreased towards normal over the course of several days. Significant correlation was observed between the contents of CgA and CgB in the tumour tissue and the plasma levels of CgA and CgB respectively. We conclude that CgA and CgB are sensitive circulating markers for phaeochromocytoma and that measurements of both urinary catecholamines and plasma chromogranins improve the diagnostic sensitivity. Furthermore, measurements of CgA may be useful in assessing the radicality of surgery in the early postoperative period.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009478	Neuropeptide Y	A 36-amino acid peptide present in many organs and in many sympathetic noradrenergic neurons. It has vasoconstrictor and natriuretic activity and regulates local blood flow, glandular secretion, and smooth muscle activity. The peptide also stimulates feeding and drinking behavior and influences secretion of pituitary hormones.	Neuropeptide Y-Like Immunoreactive Peptide,Neuropeptide Tyrosine,Neuropeptide Y Like Immunoreactive Peptide,Tyrosine, Neuropeptide
D010187	Pancreatic Hormones	Peptide hormones secreted into the blood by cells in the ISLETS OF LANGERHANS of the pancreas. The alpha cells secrete glucagon; the beta cells secrete insulin; the delta cells secrete somatostatin; and the PP cells secrete pancreatic polypeptide.	Hormones, Pancreatic
D010235	Paraganglioma	A neural crest tumor usually derived from the chromoreceptor tissue of a paraganglion, such as the carotid body, or medulla of the adrenal gland (usually called a chromaffinoma or pheochromocytoma). It is more common in women than in men. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Segen, Dictionary of Modern Medicine, 1992)	Paraganglioma, Gangliocytic,Paragangliomata,Gangliocytic Paraganglioma,Gangliocytic Paragangliomas,Paragangliomas,Paragangliomatas
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
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D002395	Catecholamines	A general class of ortho-dihydroxyphenylalkylamines derived from TYROSINE.	Catecholamine,Sympathin,Sympathins