I am seeking assistance,
A patient in our coronary care unit, approximately 4 days after a binge
of Methamphetamine, produced urine catecholamines with noradrenaline
about 3 x the upper reference limit and adrenaline about 4 times above.
Metanephrine and normetanephrine were also elevated but not to the same
extent.
My question is whether this is likely to be an expected finding after
methamphetamine OD (as this increases release of NAD and ADR and reduced
metabolism by inhibiation of MAO) or is this more likely to be a
phaeochromocytoma. His blood pressure is coming down and a repeat
collection is under way but I welcome any thoughts.
Graham
Graham Jones
Staff Specialist in Chemical Pathology
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
Ph: (02) 8382-9160
Fax: (02) 8382-2489
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