Urine Metanephrines

This test measures the amount of metanephrines that are excreted in the urine over a 24-hour period. Metanephrines are the inactive metabolites of the catecholamines epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. Catecholamines are a group of similar hormones produced in the nervous system and in the medulla (central portion) of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are small, triangular organs located on top of each kidney. The primary catecholamines are dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine. These hormones are released into the bloodstream in response to physical or emotional stress. They help transmit nerve impulses in the brain, increase glucose and fatty acid release for energy, dilate small air passages in the lungs called bronchioles, and dilate the pupils. Norepinephrine also constricts blood vessels, which increases blood pressure, and epinephrine increases heart rate and metabolism. After completing their actions, the catecholamines are metabolized to form inactive compounds. Dopamine becomes homovanillic acid (HVA), norepinephrine breaks down into normetanephrine and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), and epinephrine becomes metanephrine and VMA. Both the hormones and their metabolites are excreted in the urine.

Urine metanephrine testing measures the amount of both metanephrine and normetanephrine. These metabolites are usually present in the urine in small fluctuating amounts that increase appreciably during and shortly after the body is exposed to a stressor. Pheochromocytomas and other neuroendocrine tumors, however, can produce large amounts of catecholamines, resulting in greatly increased concentrations of the hormones and their metabolites in both the blood and urine. The catecholamines that a pheochromocytoma produces can cause persistent hypertension (high blood pressure) and/or bouts or episodes of severe hypertension. Other symptoms of catecholamine release include headaches, palpitations, sweating, nausea, anxiety, and tingling in the extremities.

About 90% of pheochromocytomas are located in the adrenal glands. While a few are cancerous, most are benign – they do not spread beyond their original location - although most do continue to grow. Left untreated, the symptoms may worsen as the tumor grows and, over a period of time, the hypertension that the pheochromocytoma causes may damage body organs, such as the kidneys and heart, and raise the risk of an affected patient having a stroke or heart attack.

The metanephrine test can be used to help detect the presence of pheochromocytomas. Although, according to the National Cancer Institute, only about 800 cases a year are diagnosed in the U.S., it is important to diagnose and treat these rare tumors because they cause a potentially curable form of hypertension. In most cases, the tumors can be surgically removed and/or treated to significantly reduce the amount of catecholamines being produced and to reduce or eliminate associated symptoms and complications.

For the 24-hour urine collection, all of your urine should be saved for a 24-hour period. It is important that the sample be refrigerated during this time period.

Foods such as coffee (including decaf), tea, chocolate, vanilla, bananas, oranges and other citrus fruits should be avoided for several days prior to the test and during collection. There are also many medications that can potentially affect test results. Talk to your doctor about any prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs and supplements that you are taking. Wherever possible, those that are known to interfere should be discontinued prior to and during sample collection. Emotional and physical stresses and vigorous exercise should be minimized prior to and during sample collection as they can increase catecholamine secretion.