The Role of Catecholamines in Pheochromocytoma Diagnosis and Management
Quantify with our Metanephrines LC-MS/MS Analysis Kit!
Pheochromocytomas are tumors originating from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla that can synthesize, metabolize, and secrete catecholamines. Diagnosis is of great importance. If undiagnosed, catecholamine secretion can lead to fatal cardiovascular consequences. Symptoms such as hypertension, palpitations and tachycardia, headaches, pallor, sweating, and panic can be observed with catecholamine secretion.
Biochemical tests can be performed to diagnose individuals with genetic predispositions or those exhibiting symptoms. After diagnosis, various imaging procedures are used to determine the tumor's location.
These catecholamines include norepinephrine, epinephrine, and a small amount of dopamine. Biochemically, elevated levels of normetanephrine, the methylated metabolite of norepinephrine, and metanephrine, the methylated metabolite of epinephrine, are observed in plasma or urine.
Measuring these metabolites separately in plasma and urine provides higher sensitivity for disease diagnosis.
You can learn the amount of Normetanephrine and Metanephrine level with the Zivak Metanephrines Analysis Kit by LC-MS/MS.