Catecholamines (Urine)

Does this check produce other names?

urine metanephrines, epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine

What is that this check?

This check measures the degrees of catecholamines in your urine.

Catecholamines are hormones made by your adrenal glands. They’re launched when you may have bodily or emotional stress. These hormones embrace epinephrine (additionally referred to as adrenalin), norepinephrine, and dopamine. They do many issues in your physique. They ship nerve impulses in your mind, slim blood vessels, and lift your coronary heart fee.

Individuals who have a uncommon kind of tumor referred to as a pheochromocytoma have excessive ranges of catecholamines of their urine. These tumors trigger hypertension. The hypertension usually goes away if the tumor is taken out. About 95% of those tumors are discovered within the stomach.

Why do I want this check?

You might want this check in case your healthcare supplier thinks you may have pheochromocytoma. Signs could embrace:

Not everybody with this kind of tumor has hypertension. As much as 3 in 20 individuals with this kind of tumor have regular blood strain.

Different signs could embrace anxiousness, weak point, and signs much like these of a panic assault. Much less frequent signs embrace blurry imaginative and prescient, pale pores and skin, elevated thirst and urination, constipation, stomach ache, and weight reduction.

You may also have this check in case you have hypertension that does not get higher with different remedy.

What different checks may I’ve together with this check?

Your healthcare supplier may additionally order different checks, together with:

What do my check outcomes imply?

Take a look at outcomes could differ relying in your age, gender, well being historical past, and different issues. Your check outcomes could also be totally different relying on the lab used. They might not imply you may have an issue. Ask your healthcare supplier what your check outcomes imply for you.

Outcomes are given in micrograms per 24 hours (mcg/24 hours). Regular outcomes are:

Norepinephrine: lower than 100 mcg/24 hours

Epinephrine: 0 to twenty mcg/24 hours

Dopamine: 65 to 400 mcg/24 hours

Normetanephrine: 105 to 354 mcg/24 hour, or metanephrine: 74 to 297 mcg/24 hours

Whole catecholamines: lower than 100 mcg/24 hours

Greater ranges of those hormones could imply you may have a pheochromocytoma tumor.

How is that this check carried out?

This check wants a 24-hour urine pattern. For this pattern, you have to acquire your entire urine for twenty-four hours. Empty your bladder utterly very first thing within the morning with out accumulating it. Notice the time. Then acquire your urine each time you go to the toilet for the subsequent 24 hours.

Does this check pose any dangers?

The check poses no identified dangers.

What may have an effect on my check outcomes?

Sure medicines can have an effect on your outcomes. Verify together with your healthcare supplier to see if any of the medicines you’re taking could have an effect on the check outcomes. A few of these medicines are tricyclic antidepressants and chilly and allergy medicines.

These meals may also have an effect on your outcomes:

Espresso, together with decaffeinated espresso

Chocolate

Vanilla, together with meals and drinks that comprise vanilla

Bananas

Oranges and different citrus fruits

Walnuts

Avocados

Fava beans

Cheese

Beer and pink wine

Licorice

Having your interval on the day of the check may also have an effect on your outcomes.

How do I prepare for this check?

Your healthcare supplier could ask you to cease taking tricyclic antidepressant medication not less than 2 weeks earlier than the check. By no means immediately cease your medicines earlier than speaking together with your healthcare supplier. They might advise slowly reducing the quantity of medication you’re taking.

Haven’t any of the meals listed above for a number of days earlier than or through the check. Attempt to avoid annoying conditions. Do not do vigorous train or get chilly earlier than the check. Do not use tobacco earlier than the check. You probably have your interval on the day of the check, inform the lab individual doing the gathering.

Ensure your healthcare supplier is aware of about all different medicines, herbs, nutritional vitamins, and dietary supplements you take. This consists of medicines that do not want a prescription and any unlawful medication chances are you’ll use.