What does high levels of Normetanephrine mean?
High levels of Normetanephrine can be from a pheochromocytoma. This is usually a benign tumor that stems from aberrant cells in the adrenal gland. The tumor produces hormones that cause high blood pressure. The high blood pressure can cause life-threatening situations, such as a heart attack.
What does a pheochromocytoma do?
If you have a pheochromocytoma, the tumor releases hormones that may cause high blood pressure, headache, sweating and symptoms of a panic attack. If a pheochromocytoma isn’t treated, severe or life-threatening damage to other body systems can result.
What hormones do pheochromocytomas produce?
Key Points about Pheochromocytomas A pheochromocytoma is a tumor in the adrenal gland. It causes the gland to make too much of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. This tumor usually occurs when you are in your 30s, 40s, or 50s. It happens to both men and women.
What do catecholamines do?
Catecholamines are hormones that the brain, nerve tissues, and adrenal glands produce. The body releases catecholamines in response to emotional or physical stress. Catecholamines are responsible for the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. Dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline are all catecholamines.
What causes high normetanephrine?
Normetanephrine levels are significantly elevated in patients treated with tricyclic antidepressive drugs or serotonin noradrenaline uptake inhibitors. Obstructive sleep apnea causes regular surges of catecholamines and elevated metanephrines, and normetanephrines are present in 24-hour urine collections.
What happens when norepinephrine is high?
Bursts of norepinephrine can lead to euphoria (very happy) feelings but are also linked to panic attacks, elevated blood pressure, and hyperactivity. Low levels can cause lethargy (lack of energy), lack of concentration, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and possibly depression.
Can pheochromocytoma be malignant?
Pheochromocytoma (PCC) is a rare disease, mainly sporadic, but also associated with some familial disorders, with a malignancy frequency of approximately 10%. Only the presence of distant metastases, derived from large pleomorphic chromaffin cells, is widely accepted as a criterion of malignancy.
How do you know if you have an adrenal tumor?
Symptoms. Symptoms of adrenal tumors depend on which type of tumor you have and where it is located. Common symptoms include a rise in blood pressure, unexplained weight gain or weakness, dramatically increased thirst or urination, or other symptoms.
What is zuckerkandl organ?
The Organs of Zuckerkandl. Paraganglia are chromaffin tissue complexes of the neuroendocrine system distributed along the paravertebral and para-aortic axes, extending from the cervical region down to the base of the pelvis [3].
What catecholamine means?
(ka-teh-KOH-luh-meen) A type of neurohormone (a chemical that is made by nerve cells and used to send signals to other cells). Catecholamines are important in stress responses. High levels cause high blood pressure which can lead to headaches, sweating, pounding of the heart, pain in the chest, and anxiety.
What is a pheochromocytoma?
A pheochromocytoma (fee-o-kroe-moe-sy-TOE-muh) is a rare, usually noncancerous (benign) tumor that develops in an adrenal gland. You have two adrenal glands —one located at the top of each kidney. Usually, a pheochromocytoma develops in only one adrenal gland. But tumors can develop in both.
What is a pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla?
Pheochromocytoma ( PHEO or PCC) is a rare tumor of the adrenal medulla composed of chromaffin cells, also known as pheochromocytes. When a tumor composed of the same cells as a pheochromocytoma develops outside the adrenal gland, it is referred to as a paraganglioma.
How can you help speed up research on pheochromocytoma?
You can help speed up the development of new treatments by giving researchers the tools they need. Pheochromocytoma is a type of neuroendocrine tumor that grows from cells called chromaffin cells. These cells produce hormones needed for the body and are found in the adrenal glands.
Can pheochromocytoma cause high blood pressure?
Usually, a pheochromocytoma develops in only one adrenal gland. But tumors can develop in both. If you have a pheochromocytoma, the tumor releases hormones that may cause high blood pressure, headache, sweating and symptoms of a panic attack.