A predominantly adrenaline-secreting phaeochromocytoma.
A 61-year-old woman who presented with diabetes, nausea, weight loss and sweating was found to have a phaeochromocytoma secreting adrenaline, with a small amount of N-methyladrenaline. There was no significant increase in noradrenaline secretion. She was normotensive, and developed profound hypotension in response to the alpha-adrenergic antagonist phenoxybenzamine. These features are unusual in phaeochromocytoma, but similar features occurred in the very few previous reported cases of pure adrenaline-secreting phaeochromocytoma. We conclude that it is important to identify such patients, so that they should not be given alpha-adrenergic antagonist drugs.
Watson
J P
JP
Department of Medicine, University of Birmingham.
Hughes
E A
EA
Bryan
R L
RL
Lawson
N
N
Barnett
A H
AH
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D000315:Adrenalectomy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D010643:Phenoxybenzamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy
D010643:Phenoxybenzamine; D004837:Epinephrine