| Vanillylmandelic acid | |
|---|---|
|
hydroxy(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)acetic acid |
|
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 55-10-7 |
| PubChem | 1245 |
| ChemSpider | 1207 |
| MeSH | Vanilmandelic+acid |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:20106 |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
|
|
|
|
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C9H10O5 |
| Molar mass | 198.17 g mol−1 |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
|
| Infobox references | |
Vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA) is an end-stage metabolite of the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine. It is produced via intermediary metabolites.
VMA is found in the urine, along with other catecholamine metabolites, including homovanillic acid (HVA), metanephrine and normetanephrine. In timed urine tests the quantity excreted (usually per 24 hours) is assessed, along with creatinine clearance, and the quantity of cortisols, catecholamines, and metanephrines excreted.
Urinary VMA is elevated in patients with tumors that secrete catecholamines.[2]
These urinalysis tests are used to diagnose an adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma, a tumor of catecholamine-secreting chromaffin cells. These tests may also be used to diagnose neuroblastomas, and to monitor treatment of these conditions.
Norepinephrine breaks down into normetanephrine and VMA. Norepinephrine is one of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands, which are found on top of the kidneys. They are released into the blood during times of physical or emotional stress, which are factors that may skew the results of the test.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||