Abstract
We propose a rapid, simple metodology for routine analysis of human urine to detect vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acid related to neuroblastoma. The assay were specific capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. In this methodology an internal standard is used and the procedure involves ethyl ester formation without isolation of the compounds of interest. The run time is 36 minutes. We also report quantitative results for urinary vanillylmandelic and homovanillic acid in neuroblastoma patients, demonstrating the diagnostic value of this method.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gao, R.N., Levy, I.G. and Woods, W.G. (1997) Incidence and mortality of neuroblastoma in Canada compared with other childhood cancers. Cancer Causes and Control 8 (5), 745–754.
Grkovic, S. and Drazic, M. (2003) Qualitative and quantitative analysis of catecholamine metabolites in diagnosis of neuroblastoma. Journal of Hematology Society of Serbia and Montenegro 31 (1), 46–48.
Gurney, J.G., Severson, R.K. and Davis, S. (1995) Incidence of cancer in children in the United States: sex-, race-, and 1-year age-specific rates by histologic type. Cancer 75 (8), 2186–2195.
Husek, P. (1997) Urine organic acid profiling by capillary gas chromatography after a simple sample pretreatment. Clin. Chem. 43, 1999–2001.
Peaston, R. and Weinkove, C. (2004). Measurement of catecholamines and their metabolites. Ann. Clin. Biochem. 41, 17–38.
Seviour, J.A., McGill, A.C., Dale, G. and Craft, A.W. (1988) Method of measurement of urinary homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry suitable for neuroblastoma screening. J. Chromatogr. 432, 273–277.
Stiller, C.A. and Parkin, D.M. (1992) International variations in the incidence of neuroblastoma. International Journal of Cancer 52 (4), 538–543.
Tuchman, M., Crippen, P.J. and Krivit, W. (1983) Capillary gas-chromatography determination of urinary homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid. Clin. Chem. 29, 828–831.
Weinkove C. (1991) Measurement of catecholamines and their metabolites in urine. J. Clin. Pathol. 44, 269–275.
Williams, C.M. and Greer, M. (1963) Homovanillic acid and vanilmandelic acid in diagnosis of neuroblastoma. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 183 (10), 836–840.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grkovic, S., Nikolic, R., Dordevic, M. et al. Urinary catecholamine metabolites: Capillary gas chromatography method and experience with 12 cases of neuroblastoma. Indian J Clin Biochem 20, 178–181 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02867423
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02867423