title: Sensitivity and specificity of a new ELISA method for determination of chromogranin A in the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma.
abstract: We have evaluated a new commercially available ELISA kit for determination of plasma chromogranin A with respect to its usefulness in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors, mainly pheochromocytoma. Serum and differently anticoagulated plasmas gave different chromogranin A concentrations. Control values (n = 21) were 18.9 +/- 5.8 units/l. Chromogranin A values > 30.4 units/l (mean + 2 S.D.) were considered elevated. In 22 patients suspected of (but found not to have) pheochromocytoma and in 24 patients with renovascular hypertension, 18% were found to have elevated chromogranin A concentrations. In renovascular hypertension chromogranin A correlated positively with serum creatinine; chromogranin A was strongly elevated especially in chronic renal failure. In 45 patients with pheochromocytoma, 13 (29%) had chromogranin A concentrations within the normal range, as had 3 out of 11 patients with neuroblastoma (27%). In 13 pheochromocytoma patients with elevated chromogranin A, measurements were repeated after surgical removal of the tumor; values then all fell within the normal range. We conclude that measurement of chromogranin A adds little to already existing methods for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Dijkzigt/Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boomsma
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Bhaggoe
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Man in 't Veld
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Schalekamp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000097:blood*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004492:Edetic Acid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006493:Heparin; D006801:Humans; D006978:Hypertension, Renovascular / Q000097:blood; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010949:Plasma; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: C506150:CHGA protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D006493:Heparin; D004492:Edetic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D005978:Glutathione