title: Comparison of plasma free metanephrines between healthy dogs and 3 dogs with pheochromocytoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adrenomegaly and hypertension are common clinical entities in canine medicine for which testing for pheochromocytoma is recommended. Yet, a validated biochemical test for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in dogs does not exist. In human medicine, plasma free metanephrine testing is the diagnostic standard for the biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of measurement of plasma free metanephrines in dogs for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma free metanephrines were measured in 11 healthy dogs and in 3 dogs confirmed to have a pheochromocytoma. The metanephrine assays were performed at a reference laboratory using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma free metanephrine and normetanephrine concentrations in 11 healthy dogs were normally distributed and were used to create tentative reference intervals. All 3 dogs with histologically confirmed pheochromocytoma clearly had higher concentrations of plasma free metanephrines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study demonstrates the potential utility of plasma free metanephrines levels for the biochemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma in dogs.
authors: Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tacoma, WA, USA.
authors: Bradley A
authors: BA
authors: Green
authors: Elizabeth L
authors: EL
authors: Frank
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008676:Metanephrine / Q000097:blood*; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000097:blood; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009647:Normetanephrine; D008676:Metanephrine
keywords: Adrenomegaly; canine; hypertension; incidentaloma; normetanephrine