Metanephrines (Urine)

Overview
Ordering info
Further Info

Description:

Urine metanephrines measured by LC-MS

Clinical details:

Catecholamines are a group of biogenic amines derived from the amino acid tyrosine and bearing the catechol (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-moiety. The group comprises of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine. Measurement of these catecholamines is useful in the diagnosis of neurochromaffin tumours (phaeochromocytoma, neuroblastoma and paragangliomas). Catecholamine secreting tumours account for <0.5% of all hypertensive patients and measuring these biogenic amines is useful for screening purposes.

Noradrenaline and adrenaline are catalysed by catechol-O-methyl transferase to form normetanephrine and metanephrine respectively. Many clinical studies have shown the analysis of urine metanephrines to be more sensitive in phaeochromcytoma diagnosis than urine catecholamines.

Reference range:

24hr Urine Normetanephrine = < 3.7 µmol/24hr, 24hr Urine Metanephrine = < 1.3 µmol/24hr , 24hr Urine 3-Methoxytyramine = <2.6 µmol/24hr

Age (yr) < 5 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 1.15 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.55 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <1.0 mmol creatinine

Age (yr) 6 - 10 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 0.21 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.12 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <0.17 mmol creatinine

Age (yr) 11 - 17 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 0.28 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.11 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <0.21 mmol creatinine

Age (yr) 18 - 90 years old: Random Urine Normetanephrine < 0.37 µmol/mmol creatinine , Random Urine Metanephrine < 0.12 mmol creatinine , Random Urine 3-Methoxytyramine <0.31 mmol creatinine

Department:

Reference Biochemistry Department

Location:

King's College Hospital

Sample type and Volume required:

Sample – plain 24hr urine collection (acidified urine is also acceptable). Random samples are also accepted.

Turnaround time:

10 working days.

Criteria for acceptance / rejections of sample

Storage and transport:

Send the completed 24 hour urine collection to the Central Specimen Reception laboratory ASAP.

Contacts: