THE DIFFERENTIAL DETERMINATION OF CATECHOLAMINES IN URINE

Abstract

Details of uniform procedures for the routine determination of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine in urine are given. The first two compounds are determined by a trihydroxyindole method; for dopamine, a modification of the method of Carlsson and Waldeck is used. Determination of adrenaline and noradrenaline is illustrated using three different types of fluorometer. Normal values for the 24-hour excretion of these compounds in the urine of normal adults are in micrograms: adrenaline, 16.4 μg ± 1.1, noradrenaline, 54.9 μg ± 3.2, dopamine, 198.8 μg ± 36.2 (mean ± standard error). Some examples of the levels of catecholamine excretion in various clinical states are given.