Catecholamines in Blood

Adrenaline Measurement in Blood, Dopamine Measurement in Blood, Epinephrine Measurement in Blood, Metanephrine Measurement in Blood, Noradrenaline Measurement in Blood, Norepinephrine Measurement in Blood, Vanillymandelic Acid Measurement in Blood

Results

A test for catecholamines measures the amount of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the blood. These catecholamines are made by nerve tissue , the brain, and the adrenal glands.

Normal

Normal values may vary widely from lab to lab.

Catecholamines in blood

Epinephrine:	Lying down:	Less than 110 picograms per microliter (pg/mL) or 0-599 picomoles per liter (pmol/L)
	Standing up:	Less than 140 pg/mL or less than 762 pmol/L
Norepinephrine:	Lying down:	70–750 pg/mL or 380–4,080 pmol/L
	Standing up:	200–1,700 pg/mL or 1,080–9,250 pmol/L
Dopamine:	Sitting or lying down:	Less than 30 pg/mL or less than 163 pmol/L
Metanephrine:	Sitting or lying down:	12–60 pg/mL or less than 380 pmol/L

High values

• High levels of catecholamines, vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), or metanephrine can mean an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma) or another type of tumor that makes catecholamines is present.
• Any major stress, such as burns, a whole-body infection (sepsis), illness, surgery, or traumatic injury, can cause high catecholamine levels.
• Many blood pressure medicines can also cause high catecholamine levels.

Low values

Low values may be caused by diabetes or some nervous system problems.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: July 28, 2008
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology
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