Normetanephrine
Metabolite of norepinephrine
Normetanephrine is a metabolite of the catecholamine norepinephrine, also known as noradrenaline. It is produced through the action of the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), which methylates norepinephrine. Normetanephrine is an important biomarker in the diagnosis of certain medical conditions, particularly pheochromocytoma and other neuroendocrine tumors.
Biochemistry[edit | edit source]
Normetanephrine is formed when norepinephrine undergoes methylation by the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase. This reaction occurs primarily in the liver and kidneys. The methylation of norepinephrine results in the addition of a methyl group to the catecholamine, converting it into normetanephrine.
Once formed, normetanephrine can be further metabolized into vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), which is excreted in the urine. The levels of normetanephrine and its metabolites in the body can be measured to assess catecholamine metabolism and to aid in the diagnosis of certain diseases.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Normetanephrine is clinically significant as a biomarker for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma, a type of tumor that arises from the adrenal medulla and secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines. Elevated levels of normetanephrine in the blood or urine can indicate the presence of such tumors.
In addition to pheochromocytoma, elevated normetanephrine levels may also be observed in other conditions associated with increased catecholamine production, such as neuroblastoma and certain forms of hypertension.
Measurement[edit | edit source]
The measurement of normetanephrine levels is typically performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or mass spectrometry. These methods allow for the precise quantification of normetanephrine and its related metabolites in biological samples such as blood plasma and urine.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD