Catecholamines in the blood

Catecholamines in the blood

Clinical significance

The catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine are produced by the adrenal medullary cells. The release of catecholamines occurs in response to such stimuli as exercise, stress, hypoxia, ból, hypoglycemia. Released into the circulation, catecholamines through adrenergic receptors affect various organs in the body. An increase in the production of catecholamines also occurs in the presence of a tumor originating in the pheochromocytoma cells, the so-called pheochromocytoma, located most often in the adrenal glands. Clinical manifestations of the tumor are usually paroxysmal hypertension accompanied by bóle headache, excessive sweating, pallor and tachycardia. Determination of catecholamines and their metabolitesów is useful in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The greatest diagnostic value is the determination in blood drawn during the occurrence of clinical symptomsów.

Patient preparation

Take blood after 30 minutes of rest. For 2 days before prób collection, do not take catecholamine preparations or any preparations that wouldócause increased release of catecholamines; do not consume nutsów, southern fruits, citrusów, cocoa, coffee and productsów containing vanilla.

Material: At rest