title: Hypertension in pheochromocytoma: characteristics and treatment.
abstract: Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla and sympathetic paraganglia, which synthesizes and secretes catecholamines. Norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine all act on their target receptors, which causes a physiologic change in the body. High circulating levels of catecholamines can lead to severe hypertension and can have devastating effects on multiple body systems (eg, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular), and can lead to death if untreated. Although surgical treatment represents the only modality of ultimate cure, pharmacologic preoperative treatment remains the mainstay of successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Section on Medical Neuroendocrinology, Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Building 10/CRC 1East Room 3140, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-1109, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Zuber
authors.forename: Vitaly
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kantorovich
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pacak
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D010236:Paraganglioma, Extra-Adrenal / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine