Plasma free metanephrines in healthy cats, cats with non-adrenal disease and a cat with suspected phaeochromocytoma.
Phaeochromocytomas are catecholamine-secreting tumours of the adrenal glands and are rare in cats. Plasma metanephrine levels are widely considered the diagnostic test of choice for phaeochromocytoma in people but have not been investigated in cats. In this study plasma free normetanephrine and metanephrine levels were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography in healthy cats, sick cats with non-adrenal disease and in a cat with a suspected phaeochromocytoma. Plasma normetanephrine was significantly higher in sick cats with non-adrenal disease compared to healthy cats (P<0.05) and markedly higher in the cat with a suspected phaeochromocytoma when compared to either group. Plasma metanephrine was not significantly different in any of the groups. This study establishes a first-line guide reference range for plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine levels in healthy cats and cats with non-adrenal disease. These results provide rationale for further studies to establish the use of plasma normetanephrine levels as a potential diagnostic test for phaeochromocytoma in the cat.
Small Animal Specialist Hospital, 1/1 Richardson Place North Ryde 2113, NSW, Australia. jwimpole@sashvets.com
Justin A
JA
Wimpole
Carl F M
CF
Adagra
Mark F
MF
Billson
Dilo N
DN
Pillai
Darren J
DJ
Foster
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000097:blood*; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000097:blood*; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009647:Normetanephrine; D008676:Metanephrine