title: [Metabolism of catecholamines in the clinical biochemistry of hypertension].
abstract: The object of this study was to review the state of methods of investigating the mmetabolism of catecholamines in the biochemical study of hypertension. A comparison between blood and urinary parameters would seem to show urinary metanephrine levels to be the most discriminating biochemical indicator of pheochromocytoma: this parameter is particularly valuable when pheochromocytoma is associated with normal blood pressure, a situation in which the circulating catecholamine levels are usually unchanged. Three recent aspects of this diagnosis, the development of which may provide new information, are discussed: differentiation between free and conjugated catecholamines, evaluation of platelet amines, the clonidine test. The study of the métabolism of catecholamines in non-tumoral hypertension is also considered but the problems in performing and interpreting these tests are much more difficult.
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines
vernacular_title: L'étude du métabolisme des catécholamines dans la biochimie clinique de l'hypertension.