What is a VMA urine test?

Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) and other catecholamine metabolites such as homovanillic acid (HVA) measurement in urine are used for screening children for catecholamine-secreting tumors such as neuroblastoma and other neural crest tumors and monitoring those who have had treatment for these tumors.

What does elevated VMA mean?

When a person has large amounts of VMA in his or her urine, it is not diagnostic of a condition; it is an indication that further investigation is necessary. Intense emotional and physical stresses can cause moderate to large temporary increases in VMA levels.

What is VMA and its diagnostic value?

Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), a metabolic by-product of norepinephrine and epinephrine, can be used to detect neuroblastoma and other tumors of neural crest origin.

What is normal range of VMA?

Normal Values: VMA: 2 to 7 mg/24-hours. epinephrine: 0.5 to 20 mcg/24-hours. norepinephrine: 15 to 80 mcg/24-hours. dopamine: 65 to 400 mcg/24-hours.

What does low VMA mean?

What does it mean if your Vanilmandelate (VMA) result is too low? Low levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine may be associated with addictions, cravings, fatigue, low blood pressure, low muscle tone, intolerance to exercise, depression, loss of alertness.

What is VMA pheochromocytoma?

5.4. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is produced in the liver and is a major product of norepinephrine and epinephrine metabolism excreted in the urine. Therefore VMA is a poor diagnostic marker for pheochromocytoma given that very little is derived from catecholamine and metanephrines.

What causes low VMA?

The enzymes COMT (methylation) and MAOA are needed to make VMA from norepinephrine. If these enzymes are not working properly, VMA may be low when circulating norepinephrine and/or epinephrine are not low.

Is VMA a metanephrine?

Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA) Metanephrine and normetanephrine are metabolic products of epinephrine and norepinephrine.

What is the best test for pheochromocytoma?

The most commonly ordered blood test for pheochromocytoma is the plasma free metanephrine test. Though more convenient to obtain than a 24-hour urine collection, plasma free metanephrine testing is plagued by frequent false positive results.

Is pheochromocytoma malignant or benign?

Most pheochromocytomas are benign, which means they are not cancer and do not spread to other parts of the body. Only about 10% of pheochromocytomas spread to other parts of the body.

What foods trigger pheochromocytoma?

Foods high in tyramine, a substance that affects blood pressure, also can make symptoms worse. Tyramine is common in foods that are fermented, aged, pickled, cured, overripe or spoiled. These foods include: Some cheeses.