Urinary Catecholamines and Their Intermediate Metabolites

Analytes
Metanephrine (MN)、Normetanephrine (NMN) 、Norepinephrine (NE) 、Epinephrine (E)、Dopamine (DA) 、3-Methoxytyramine (3-MT)
Representative Clinical Applications
Accurate differential diagnosis of secondary hypertension caused by endocrine disorders such as pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, enabling timely treatment.
Provides clinical guidance for diseases associated with elevated catecholamine levels, including cardiovascular disease, cerebral infarction, and schizophrenia, as well as conditions associated with reduced catecholamine levels, such as Parkinson's disease and malnutrition.
Sample Type
Urine collected under strongly acidic conditions, stored at −20°C and protected from light.

Background
Urinary catecholamines and their metabolites are important signaling mediators in normal physiological processes. Changes in their concentrations in 24-hour urine are closely associated with a variety of pathological conditions.
Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas synthesize, secrete, and release excessive amounts of catecholamines. Depending on the quantity, type, and form of catecholamine secretion, patients may present with different clinical manifestations.
The incidence of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma is approximately 2–5 cases per million people per year. Among patients with hypertension, these tumors account for 0.1%–0.6% of cases, whereas the detection rate in autopsy reports is approximately 0.05%, suggesting that many cases remain undiagnosed.
Because missed diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma may lead to severe cardiovascular complications, early diagnosis is particularly important. Clinically, measurement of epinephrine (E), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), metanephrine (MN), normetanephrine (NMN), and 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) in 24-hour urine is a primary basis for the qualitative diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma.
Packing Specification

Mass Spectrometry