儿茶酚胺-尿

定义

Catecholamines are chemicals made by nerve tissue (including the brain) and the adrenal gland.

The main types of catecholamines are dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. These chemicals break down into other components, which leave your body through your urine.

A urine test can be done to measure the amount of catecholamines produced by your body. Separate urine tests may be done to measure related substances.

Catecholamines can also be measured with a 血液测试.

选择的名字

Dopamine - urine test; Epinephrine - urine test; Adrenalin - urine test; Urine metanephrine; Normetanephrine; Norepinephrine - urine test; Urine catecholamines; VMA; HVA; Metanephrine; Homovanillic acid (HVA)

如何执行测试

对于这个测试, you must collect your urine in a special bag or container every time you urinate for a 24-hour period.

• On day 1, urinate over the toilet when you wake up in the morning and discard that urine.
• Urinate into the special container every time you use the bathroom for the next 24 hours. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period.
• On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning again when you wake up.
• Label the container with your name, the date, the time of completion, and return it as instructed.

For an infant, thoroughly wash the area where urine exits the body.

• Open a urine collection bag (a plastic bag with an adhesive paper on one end).
• 对于雄性，放置整个 阴茎 in the bag and attach the adhesive to the skin.
• For females, place the bag over the labia.
• 尿布像往常一样盖在固定的袋子上.

这个过程可能需要尝试几次. An active baby can move the bag causing urine to go into the diaper.

Check the infant often and change the bag after the infant has urinated into it. Drain the urine from the bag into the container provided by your health care provider.

Deliver the sample to the laboratory or to your provider as soon as possible.

如何准备考试

压力 and heavy exercise may affect the test results.

Some foods can increase catecholamines in your urine. You may need to avoid the following foods and beverages for several days before the test:

• 香蕉
• 巧克力
• 柑橘类水果
• 可可
• 咖啡
• 甘草
• 茶
• 香草

Many medicines can interfere with test results.

• Your provider will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicines before you have this test.
• Do not stop or change your medicines without talking to your provider first.

考试的感觉如何

The test involves only normal urination, and there is no discomfort.

为什么要进行测试

The test is usually done to diagnose an adrenal gland tumor called 嗜铬细胞瘤. 它也可用于诊断 神经母细胞瘤. Urine catecholamine levels are increased in most people with 神经母细胞瘤.

The urine test for catecholamines may also be used to monitor those who are receiving treatment for these conditions.

正常的结果

All of the catecholamines are broken down into inactive substances that appear in the urine:

• 多巴胺变成同香草酸(HVA)
• Norepinephrine becomes normetanephrine and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA)
• 肾上腺素变成了肾上腺素和VMA

The following normal values are the amount of the substance found in the urine over a 24-hour period:

• Dopamine: 65 to 400 micrograms (mcg)/24 hours (420 to 2612 nmol/24 hours)
• 肾上腺素:0.5 ~ 20mcg /24小时
• Metanephrine: 24 to 96 mcg/24 hours (some laboratories give the range as 140 - 785 mcg/24 hours)
• 去甲肾上腺素:15至80微克/24小时
• 去甲肾上腺素:75至375微克/24小时
• Total urine catecholamines: 14 to 110 mcg/24 hours
• VMA: 2 to 7 milligrams (mg)/24 hours (10 to 35 mcmol/24 hours)

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

The examples above show the common measurements for results for these tests. Some laboratories use different measurements or may test different specimens.

异常结果意味着什么

Elevated levels of urinary catecholamines may indicate:

• 急性 焦虑
• Ganglio神经母细胞瘤 (很少)
• 星形胶质细胞瘤 (很少)
• 神经母细胞瘤(罕见)
• 嗜铬细胞瘤(罕见)
• 严重的压力

该测试也可用于:

• 多发性内分泌瘤(MEN

风险

没有风险.

注意事项

几种食物和药物, 还有身体活动和压力, 会影响这个测试的准确性吗.

参考文献。

Gruber HA, Oprea M. 罗素YX. 内分泌功能评价. 见:McPherson RA, Pincus MR，编辑. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24日艾德. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.

年轻的WF. Adrenal medulla, catecholamines, and 嗜铬细胞瘤. 参见:Goldman L, Schafer AI主编. Goldman-Cecil医学. 26日艾德. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 215.