Editing Catecholamine (section)

== Testing for catecholamines ==
Catecholamines are secreted by cells in tissues of different systems of the human body, mostly by the nervous and the endocrine systems. The adrenal glands secrete certain catecholamines into the blood when the person is physically or mentally stressed and this is usually a healthy physiological response.{{CN|date=January 2023}} However, acute or chronic excess of circulating catecholamines can potentially increase blood pressure and heart rate to very high levels and eventually provoke dangerous effects. Tests for fractionated plasma free [[metanephrines]] or the urine metanephrines are used to confirm or exclude certain diseases when the doctor identifies signs of [[hypertension]] and [[tachycardia]] that don't adequately respond to treatment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labtestsonline.org/tests/plasma-free-metanephrines|title=Plasma Free Metanephrines {{!}} Lab Tests Online|website=labtestsonline.org|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labtestsonline.org/tests/urine-metanephrines|title=Urine Metanephrines {{!}} Lab Tests Online|website=labtestsonline.org|date=6 December 2019|access-date=2019-12-24}}</ref> Each of the tests measure the amount of adrenaline and noradrenaline metabolites, respectively called [[metanephrine]] and [[normetanephrine]].

Blood tests are also done to analyze the amount of catecholamines present in the body.

Catecholamine tests are done to identify rare tumors at the adrenal gland or in the nervous system. Catecholamine tests provide information relative to tumors such as: pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma, and neuroblastoma.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/catecholamines-test-facts|title=Catecholamine Urine & Blood Tests|website=WebMD|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labtestsonline.org/tests/catecholamines|title=Catecholamines|website=labtestsonline.org|language=en|access-date=2019-10-09}}</ref>