What is a catecholamine urine test?

Catecholamine urine test is one of the types of urine test that you may need based on the doctor's diagnosis.... Catecholamines are proteins that play the role of neurotransmitters.... They move signals inside the brain and body.... Catecholamines are divided into the following types:

Dopamine
Epinephrine

These proteins play an essential role in the body's fight or flight response and help control various functions. Among these functions, the following can be mentioned:

Heartbeat
Blood pressure
Glucose metabolism or blood sugar
fat metabolism

Catecholamines are produced primarily in the adrenal glands....The levels of these proteins may fluctuate freely in response to physical or emotional stress....Also, these proteins undergo changes in response to other conditions:

Outside temperature
Blood loss
sports exercises
Low blood sugar
Change from sitting to standing and vice versa

Catecholamine urine test

The catecholamine urine test (CATU) is used to diagnose a variety of diseases that increase the amount of catecholamine production. This test is usually used in conjunction with a catecholamine blood test.

Catecholamine levels fluctuate easily, so testing is not recommended if you do not have symptoms.. Because in many cases the results obtained may be associated with false positive results.

What is the reason for conducting catecholamine urine test?

A doctor usually requests a CATU test to check for symptoms of a pheochromocytoma. A pheochromocytoma is a type of tumor that develops inside the adrenal glands and results in excess catecholamine production.

It is recommended that, if possible, pheocrocytomas should be surgically removed.. They interfere with the normal functioning of the adrenal glands and cause uncontrolled high blood pressure.. In addition, the risk of becoming cancerous and spreading to other organs threatens the patient.

A doctor who suspects neuroblastoma in children will order a CATU test.. This is an aggressive type of neurocarcinoma that usually starts in the adrenal glands and raises catecholamine levels..

What symptoms lead to a catecholamine urine test?

To check the presence of pheocrocytoma, neuroblastoma, paraganglioma, the doctor requests a catecholamine urine test.... These tumors are considered a rare group of nervous system tumors.

Symptoms of pheochromocytoma are as follows:

High blood pressure, which often appears to be non-permanent.
High heart rate
Strong and abnormal heartbeat
Profuse perspiration
Weight loss
Severe headache not permanent
Skin paleness
Severe and unjustifiable anxiety

It should be noted that these symptoms are not always signs of pheochromocytoma. Pheochromocytomas are classified as rare tumors.

Symptoms of neuroblastoma are as follows:

Painless blue lumps under the skin
Abdominal volume and swelling
Swelling of the legs
whistle
High blood pressure
Fast heartbeat
diarrhea
Swelling of the eyes and other changes in the shape and size of the eyes, especially the pupils
creating dark areas around the eyes
Fever
unjustifiable weight loss

catecholamine

What are the potential results of a catecholamine urine test?

The CATU test measures the amount of catecholamines in the blood. This test is usually done over a 24-hour period. The levels of this substance fluctuate wildly throughout the day.

Mayo Medical Laboratories lists average catecholamine levels by age.. Here we refer to this category:

Epinephrine

Under 1 year - 0 to 2.5 micrograms per 24 hours
1 year – 0 to 3.5 micrograms per 24 hours
2-3 years – 0 to 6 micrograms per 24 hours
4-9 years – 2 to 10 micrograms per 24 hours
10-15 years - 0.5 to 20 micrograms per 24 hours
16 years or older – 0 to 20 mcg/24 hours

Epinephrine light

Less than 1 year - 0 to 10 mg per 24 hours
1 year – 1 to 17 micrograms per 24 hours
2-3 years – 4 to 29 micrograms per 24 hours
4-6 years – 8-45 micrograms per 24 hours
7-9 years - 13 to 65 micrograms per 24 hours
10 years and older – 15 to 80 micrograms per 24 hours

Dopamine

Under one year - 0 to 85 mg/24 hours
1 year – 10 to 140 mg per 24 hours
2-3 years – 40 to 260 mg per 24 hours
4 years and older - 65-400 mg in 24 hours

The CATU test alone is not used to diagnose a disease or physical problem....This test is only the first step in diagnosing the underlying problem....If the catecholamine level is high, more tests are done....These tests include things like catecholamine metabolism byproducts in the urine, such as metanephrine and mandelic acid vanillin, and diagnosistumor testing and

If there are no symptoms of the disease, the possibility of false positive test results increases. Even if the symptoms of the disease are present, the diagnosis of pheocrocytoma is very difficult.

How to prepare for the catecholamine test?

There is no need for prior preparation to perform this test... Of course, several factors interfere with blood catecholamine levels.... These factors include:

coffee

Tea

Chocolate and vanilla

antiallergic drugs
Foods such as walnuts, avocados, bananas, citrus fruits, cheese and licorice

The doctor will provide you with a list of prohibited foods before the test.. Be sure to inform them of all the medications you are taking..
If your child needs a CATU test and is breastfed, discuss this with the doctor... because substances can be transferred through breast milk that may affect the test result.

How is the catecholamine urine test done?

The CATU test is done outside the doctor's office....In this test, all urine produced in a 24-hour period is collected....Follow all instructions provided by the laboratory....You will probably be given a 3-liter container to collect the urine.

Usually the 24-hour period for urine collection begins after the first urine in the morning.... During the next 24 hours, all urine is collected as directed and a 24-hour urinalysis is performed... After completing this test, the entire sample is returned to the laboratory.

Children's urine bags are used to collect the urine of babies and young children... In this way, a bag is placed inside the child's diaper and the urine is collected inside it... After each stage of urination, a new bag replaces the previous bag...
Catecholamine test results

The results of this test will be ready in a few days... Once the results are available, your doctor will share them with you... High levels of catecholamines in the body are a sign of a tumor.

Abnormal levels of CATU are useful for diagnosing pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, paraganglioma, etc. However, more tests are needed to determine the type, size, and location of the tumor.

For information about the catecholamine urine test or CATU test, you can use the neurologist's guide . Of course, you don't have to wait to get the medical care you need as soon as possible. After examining the needs of different patients and doctors, the GCORP LLC team has chosen a point on its site in the best possible way. The doctor you want without it, you have to go in person and call the office, you can refer to the list of the best doctors and book your appointment online according to the doctor's first vacant appointment, patient comments, office phone number and office address.

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