Resting urinary catecholamine excretion in schizophrenics: methodology and interpretation of results.
Plasma and urinary catecholamines were measured in a group of schizophrenics and in normal subjects by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. A brief procedure for urine sampling performed under standardized environmental and physical conditions was used. Plasma levels and urinary excretion rates of noradrenaline were significantly higher in schizophrenics than in a control population. When plotted for linear regression analysis, both plasma and urinary noradrenaline values were positively correlated (r = 0.75, p less than 0.05). Results reported suggest that urinary catecholamine measurement could be used for a reliable assessment of sympatho-adrenal function in schizophrenia.
D000328:Adult; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000032:analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*
D002395:Catecholamines; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine