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Date sent: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 08:42:22 +0100 Send reply to: "Robertson, Stuart" <[log in to unmask]> From: "Robertson, Stuart" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Urine catecholamines To: [log in to unmask] > I am interested to know how laboratories interpret 24 hour urine > catecholamines (particularly noradrenaline) in adults being investigated for > possible phaeochromocytoma. > > To exclude phaeochromocytoma as a likely diagnosis, are any labs using a > 'cut-off' level which is different from an 'upper limit of normal' derived > from data from a population of 'normal' healthy individuals? If so, what > cut-off level is appropriate? > > Stuart Robertson > Biochemistry Department > Hull Royal Infirmary > Hull > HU3 2JZ > UK > > (01482-607707) Stuart To set up our "reference range" for urine catecholamines and metadrenalines we analysed the results of a large number of urine samples from hypertensive patients referred to us for the investigation of possible phaeochromocytoma. We removed the results of any patient subsequently shown to have a phaeochromocytoma and to be sure that we did not include any unknown phaeos we truncated the top 2% of the rest of the results. This gave us ranges of :- Noradrenaline <1.0 umol/24hrs Adrenaline <0.2 umol/24hrs Normetadrenaline <4.0 umol/24hrs Metadrenaline <2.0 umol/24hrs This range is based on catecholamine / metadrenaline levels in treated and untreated hypertensive subjects and should therefore in theory be more appropriate for the population being investigated. John Kane Mr. John Kane Clinical Biochemistry Dept Hope Hospital Salford M6 8HD Tel. 0161 787 4374 Fax. 0161 788 7443 Email [log in to unmask] Website :- http://www.johnsgarden.co.uk/ ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/