Spot urine 5-hydroxy indole acetic acid and acute appendicitis.

Abstract

We have concluded that measurement of 5-HIAA in spot urine is a highly reliable test supporting the clinical diagnosis of appendicitis and if it does not show an increase, appendicitis can be ruled out with a very high degree of confidence which helps to reduce unnecessary appendectomies. In clinically suspected appendicitis patients with diarrhea, an increase of 5-HIAA may not confirm the diagnosis.