Alternative names for adrenaline Epinephrine What is adrenaline? Adrenocorticotropic hormone. Related Glands. Pituitary gland Adrenal glands Kidneys View all Glands.
Related Endocrine Conditions. Cushing's disease Phaeochromocytoma Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Primary hyperaldosteronism View all Endocrine conditions. Related Hormones. Related Glossary Supplements. Why It Is Done A catecholamine test is done to help diagnose a tumor in the adrenal glands called a pheochromocytoma. How To Prepare You may be asked to avoid certain foods and fluids for 2 to 3 days before having this test, such as: Caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cocoa, and chocolate.
These are found in bananas, walnuts, avocados, fava beans, cheese, beer, and red wine. Any foods or fluids with vanilla. How It Is Done A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm. How It Feels When a blood sample is taken, you may feel nothing at all from the needle. Risks There is very little chance of having a problem from this test.
Results Normal Each lab has a different range for what's normal. High values High levels of catecholamines, vanillylmandelic acid VMA , or metanephrine can mean that an adrenal gland tumor pheochromocytoma or another type of tumor that makes catecholamines is present.
Any major stress, such as burns, a whole-body infection sepsis , illness, surgery, or traumatic injury, can cause high catecholamine levels. Many blood pressure medicines can also cause high catecholamine levels. Low values Low levels of catecholamines usually do not indicate a problem. Credits Current as of: March 31, Previous Section: Related Information Top of the page.
Current as of: March 31, Catecholamines are more often measured with a urine test than with a blood test. You will likely be told not to eat anything fast for 10 hours before the test. You may be allowed to drink water during this time.
The accuracy of the test can be affected by certain foods and medicines. Foods that can increase catecholamine levels include:. You should not eat these foods for several days before the test. This is especially true if both blood and urine catecholamines are to be measured. You should also avoid stressful situations and vigorous exercise. Both can affect the accuracy of the test results. If you take any of the above medicines, check with your health care provider before the blood test about whether you should stop taking your medicine.
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel slight pain. Others feel a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This usually takes less than five minutes. You may also be asked to avoid stress and vigorous exercise before your test, as these can affect cathecholamine levels. Certain medicines may also affect levels.
Be sure to tell your provider about all the medicines you are taking. There is very little risk to having a blood test. You may have slight pain or bruising at the spot where the needle was put in, but most symptoms go away quickly. If your results show high levels of catecholamines in your urine or blood, it may mean you have a pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, or paraganglioma tumor.
If you are being treated for one of these tumors, high levels may mean your treatment is not working. High levels of these hormones does not always mean you have a tumor. If you have questions about your results or your child's results, talk to your health care provider. These tests can help diagnose certain tumors, but they can't tell whether the tumor is cancerous. Most tumors are not. If your results showed high levels of these hormones, your provider will probably order more tests.
These include imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI , which can help your provider get more information about a suspected tumor. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Catecholamine Tests. What are catecholamine tests?
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