Urinary and plasma catecholamines and metanephrines in dogs

Pheochromocytomas (PC) are catecholamine-producing tumors arising from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. Clinical signs result most often from secretion of excessive amounts of catecholamines. Diagnosis of PC in humans is mainly based on biochemical detection of catecholamine-derived secretory products. Commonly used tests are measurement of catecholamines and their O-methoxylated metabolites metanephrines (normetanephrine and metanephrine) in 24-hour urine samples or in plasma. The question of whether urine or plasma is best is still somewhat controversial, but plasma metanephrines are recommended more often as test of choice.
Source: Advances in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery - Category: Veterinary Research Tags: Clinical Pathology Source Type: research