Analysis index

10 ml of 24-hour collection urine, storage at 4°C (also during collection).

Please refer to findings report

Suspicion of secondary hypertension, diagnosis and progress checks of pheochromocytoma or pheochromocytoma-paraganglioma syndrome, screening of MEN 2A, neurofibromatosis type 1, Hippel-Lindau syndrome and incidentalomas. Suspicion of neuroblastoma (in connection with vanillic acid and homovanillylmandelic acid) and ganglioneuroma.

For 2 – 3 days before the test, coffee, tea, nicotine, alcohol, chocolate, bananas, eggs and nuts should be avoided. As far as justifiable, all medication should be discontinued 7 – 14 days prior to the test. Theophylline, MAO inhibitors, phenothiazine, methyldopa, levodopa can be responsible for an increased catecholamine excretion for up to 2 weeks and should definitely be discontinued. Diuretics, alpha- and beta-receptor blockers, vasodilators, calcium antagonists, angiotensin-II-antagonists, ACE-inhibitors and Clonidine (Catapressan®) should also be discontinued where possible. A strong sympathicus stimulation caused by hypoglycemia, physical exertion or increased intracranial pressure can also cause an increase in catecholamine excretion.

To increase sensitivity, simultaneous determination of the catecholamine degradation products metanephrine and normetanephrine in the urine is recommended, as these are released continuously, as opposed to the pulsatile released parent substances (please refer to section “metanephrine, normetanephrine in the urine”).