Catecholamine Blood Test

This test helps in the diagnosis of conditions that result in high levels of catecholamines in the blood. These conditions include tumours of adrenal glands known as pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, etc.

Some symptoms of pheochromocytoma include:

• Severe headache
• Excessive sweating
• Rapid and strong heartbeats or palpitations
• Trembling of the body
• Increased anxiety
• Irritability and nervousness
• Extreme paleness 
• Dizziness
• High blood pressure
• Weight loss
• Raised blood sugar

In children, increased blood catecholamines result in:

• Pain in the bones
• Limping while walking
• Abnormal movements of eyes or legs
• Anaemia
• Weight loss
• Swelling in the abdomen

Fasting for 10 hours is necessary before a catecholamine blood test. Water is allowed during fasting. Mental stress and heavy exercises can affect the test report, hence they should be avoided before the test.

Avoid the following food items one week before the test: tea, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, banana, walnut, vanilla and fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges, and grapes.

Inform your doctor if you are consuming medicines containing the following components, before the test as they increase the levels of catecholamines in the blood:

• Acetaminophen used for treating flu, headache, body ache, cold, and cough.
• Albuterol and aminophylline used in the treatment of asthma and wheezing to relieve the spasm in narrow airways caused due to the constriction of smooth muscles in those air passages (bronchodilator)
• Amphetamines and buspirone used in the treatment of the disorders of the nervous system such as attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorder and so on
• Caffeine and cocaine, which stimulate the nervous system
• Calcium channel blocking drugs, methyldopa and reserpine used in the treatment of high blood pressure
• Cyclobenzaprine used for treating pain in the muscles
• Levodopa, which can treat Parkinson’s disease
• Large doses of nicotinic acid used to treat high cholesterol and as a food supplement
• Phenoxybenzamine used to treat high blood pressure and increased sweating that occurs in pheochromocytoma (tumour of the adrenal gland)
• Phenothiazines used to treat nausea, vomiting and psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, hallucinations and so on
• Pseudoephedrine used to treat sinusitis
• Tricyclic antidepressant used in depression treatment

Following drugs decrease the levels of catecholamines in the blood:

• Clonidine used in the treatment of high blood pressure and ADHD
• Guanethidine used to treat high blood pressure
• MAO inhibitors used in depression treatment

Avoid using medications or injections that contain epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine at least 12 hours before the test. Also, avoid intake of tobacco and caffeine-containing drinks for at least four hours before the test.

A lab technician will withdraw a blood sample from a vein in your arm in tubes and collect it in tubes containing special preservative chemicals such as EDTA or heparin. It is important to freeze the blood sample within one hour after collection to avoid errors in the test report. 

It takes two to five days to obtain the results after collection of the blood sample. Bleeding, bleeding under the skin and infection at the site from where the blood is drawn are some of the side effects of the test. Some people may feel dizzy after the blood is drawn. However, most of these symptoms subside on their own. If the discomfort persists, check in with your doctor at the earliest.

Normal results:

• Epinephrine: 0-140 pg/mL or 764.3 pmol/L
• Norepinephrine: 70-1700 pg/mL or 413.8-10048.7 pmol/L
• Dopamine: 0-30 pg/mL or 195.8 pmol/L

Abnormal results:

Abnormal results are indicated by higher than normal catecholamine levels. It could be due to the following diseases:

• Sudden state of anxiety or severe stress
• Pheochromocytoma (tumour of adrenal glands)
• Rare tumours related to the central nervous system such as:
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Ganglioneuroma 
  • Ganglioblastoma
• Multi-system atrophy (parkinsonian type). It is a rare condition with symptoms similar to that of Parkinson’s disease. It affects the nervous system with severe and rapidly progressing symptoms. Symptoms include tremors in hands, difficulty while walking, loss of urine control, stiffness of joints, and increased frequency of falling while walking or standing.

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.