Review
Detection and standardization of catecholamines and their metabolites
Liu Qingxiang, Zhou Weiyan, Zhang Chuanbao
Published 2020-03-11
Cite as Chin J Lab Med, 2020, 43(3): 322-327. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.1009-9158.2020.03.024
Abstract
Catecholamines include dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. The main metabolites are 3-methoxytyramine, normetanephrine, metanephrine,homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid. Detection of catecholamines and their metabolites is the cornerstone for the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors derived from neural crest such as pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma and neuroblastoma. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry has been widely used in the detection of catecholamines and their metabolites due to its high sensitivity and high specificity. However, the results of liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in different laboratories are quite different and lack comparability. Accurate determination of catecholamines and their mtabolites in plasma and urine is currently a challenge in the field of clinical detectionbecause of their susceptibility to oxidative degradation, presence of numerous interferences and low concentration in plasma and urine samples.
Key words:
Catecholamines; Neuroendocrine tumor; Chromatography, liquid; Tandem mass spectrometry
Contributor Information
Liu Qingxiang
National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
Zhou Weiyan
National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
Zhang Chuanbao
National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Engineering Research Center of Laboratory Medicine, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China