Reference intervals for urinary catecholamines and metabolites from birth to adulthood

ObjectiveTo establish reference intervals for urinary excretion of biogenic amines from birth to adulthood.Design and methods865 outpatients were categorized into nine groups ranging from birthday to 25 years. Free catecholamines, total metanephrines, vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acids were determined in urine samples by HPLC with amperometric detection.ResultsThe ratio of each analyte-to-creatinine declined gradually from birth to 15–18 years reaching adults values. No difference was observed by sex except a lower excretion of epinephrine and metanephrine in girls than in boys below 1 year.ConclusionOur data provide age-appropriate reference ranges for the diagnosis of tumors from neural crest in children.