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vanillylmandelate (VMA) in 24 hour urine

Indications: - suspected neuroendocrine tumor a) pheochromocytoma b) neuroblastoma c) ganglioneuroma Reference interval: 1) adult: < 8 mg/day (< 40 umol/day) 2) < 10 ug/mg (6 mmol/mol) of creatinine* * Creatinine is measured simultaneously to ensure adequate collection of urine & to calculate VMA/creatinine ratio. Increases: 1) pharmaceutical agents a) in vivo effects -> epinephrine, glucagon, guanethidine (initial doses), histamine, insulin (high doses), levodopa (small increase), lithium, nitroglycerin, reserpine (initial doses) b) chemical interferences (colorimetric methods) -> aminosalicylic acid, aspirin, labetolol, nalidixic acid, methyldopa, caffeine, guaiacol, methamine, mephenesin, methocarbamol, oxytetracycline, phenazopyridine -> bananas, chocolate, tea, coffee, vanilla 2) clinical disorders a) pheochromocytoma b) neuroblastoma c) ganglioneuroma d) carcinoid tumor (some cases) Decreases: -> pharmaceutical agents a) in vivo effects -> chlorpromazine, clonidine (dose-dependent), debrisoquine, disulfiram, guanethidine, hydrazine derivatives, imipramine, MAO inhibitors, morphine, radiographic agents, reserpine (chronic) b) chemical interferences -> alkaline urine (instable at room temp above pH of 3.0) aspirin, dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, gentisic acid, homovanillic acid (HVA), levodopa, clofibrate Methods: 1) HPLC 2) gas chromatography 3) color (Pisano) Specimen: 1) urine, 24 hours 2) preserve with 20 mL of 6M HCl 3) refrigerate 4) stable for 2 weeks

Related

carcinoid (argentaffinoma) ganglioneuroma neuroblastoma pheochromocytoma; paroxysmal hypertension; adrenal medullary paraganglioma; chromoffinoma vanillylmandelate

General

24 hour urine vanillylmandelate in urine

References

  1. Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, 3rd ed. Teitz ed., W.B. Saunders, 1995
  2. Panel of 9 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: 80421
  3. Panel of 11 tests Laboratory Test Directory ARUP: 80470