What is a Catecholamine Test? Why is the test done? Everything around this, that you should know, in this post and of course our doctors are always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form down below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!
Catecholamines are basically hormones which are present in the brain, nerve tissues, and adrenal glands. These are released into the body when the body needs them in response to physical or emotional stress.
The three main types of catecholamines are:
Catecholamine acts as a neurotransmitter in the body. These are produced in the brain, nerve tissues, and adrenal glands.
Dopamine –
This neurotransmitter sends signals to the nervous system and it helps regulate the following:
The normal range of dopamine is 0–30pg/mL
Adrenaline, or epinephrine –
Adrenaline hormone is responsible for the “fight-or-flight” response in the body. The body releases adrenaline when a person experiences stress to allow increased blood flow to the muscles, heart, and lungs.
The normal range of epinephrine is 0–140pg/mL
Noradrenaline, or norepinephrine –
It helps the body respond to stress. It regulates the mood and the ability to concentrate.
The normal range of norepinephrine is 70-170pg/mL
This test measures the amount of catecholamines hormone in urine or blood.
It is used to diagnose or rule out certain types of rare tumours. These include:
This test is needed when you have a symptoms of tumour that affects the catecholamine levels.
The symptoms in adults are:
The symptoms in children are:
A urine test is done to measure the total amount of catecholamine in urine over a 24-hour period. In urine tests, readings are more accurate than a blood test. The catecholamine blood levels can change very quickly and it affects by the stress of testing.
A catecholamine urine test:
Healthcare will ask you to collect all urine during a 24-hour period. This is called a 24-hour urine test. Test instructions:
Total urine catecholamines: 14 to 110 mcg/24 hours
If the levels are high then you may have a pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, or paraganglioma tumour. High levels of catecholamine don’t mean that you have always a tumour. These hormones can be affected by stress, caffeine, vigorous exercise, smoking and alcohol.
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** The text on this website is sourced from websites like emedicine and/or other verified material by government agencies around the globe along with valuable inputs and additions by our team. The content of this page is proofread and updated by the team of doctors, every once in a while, to provide the most accurate information.
