Preliminary results with the clonidine suppression test in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
23 patients presenting with symptoms of pheochromocytoma were subjected to the clonidine suppression test. In 6 patients, in whom a pheochromocytoma was surgically approved later on, norepinephrine was not suppressed by clonidine. 17 patients in whom a secondary form of hypertension could be excluded by other diagnostic measures showed a marked decrease of plasma norepinephrine. Apart from drowsiness, no adverse side effects were observed. In our hands, the clonidine test proved as a safe and specific test in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D003000:Clonidine; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism
D003000:Clonidine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine