Adrenaline blood test: when the stress hormone becomes a marker of disease

What is adrenaline and why should it be measured?

Adrenaline is catecholamine, which is produced adrenal glands in response to stress, pain, hypoglycemia, or exercise. It is one of the key hormones that activates the "fight or flight" response: it increases heart rate, blood pressure, glucose levels, and stimulates the release of energy from depots.

However, its level is normal. rapidly increasing and decreasing, without leaving lasting traces. When adrenaline is constantly elevated or produced unnecessarily, this may indicate endocrine or neurological disorders.

Why take an adrenaline test?

A blood test for adrenaline is prescribed if there is suspicion of:

• pheochromocytoma — an adrenal gland tumor that produces catecholamines

• panic disorders, tachycardias of unknown origin

• hypertension that does not respond to treatment

• increased sweating, tremors, anxiety for no reason

• differential diagnosis of autonomic disorders

The test can also be used as part of an extended adrenal hormone study.

How is the analysis done?

• It seems venous blood, less often - urine (daily or one-time)

• Blood must be donated. on an empty stomach, in morning hours, in a state of physical and emotional rest

• By 2–3 days caffeine should be avoided, alcohol, smoking, physical overload, emotional stress

• Before analysis it is not recommended to take some medications: sympathomimetics, antidepressants, beta-blockers (agreed with the doctor)

How are the results evaluated?

The norm of adrenaline in the blood plasma of an adult is usually:

• < 100–120 pg/mL (depending on the laboratory)

Increased adrenaline may indicate:

• pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma

• intense physical or emotional stress before the analysis

• hypoglycemic reaction

• hypertensive crisis

• neuroendocrine tumors outside the adrenal glands

Reduced level has less clinical significance, but can be detected when adrenal exhaustion or disorders of sympathetic innervation.

Important: one result is not a diagnosis

Due to the unstable nature of adrenaline in the blood, its often analyzed together with other catecholamines:

• noradrenaline

• dopamine

• metanephrines / normetanephrines — stable metabolites, more accurate markers of pheochromocytoma

If an adrenal tumor is suspected, the doctor usually also prescribes:

• Ultrasound or CT scan of the adrenal glands

• MRI with contrast

• functional hormonal tests

What symptoms should alert you?

• unexpected attacks of palpitations

• sudden increases in blood pressure, sweating

• anxiety, panic without an obvious reason

• headache, tremor

• loss of consciousness

• blood glucose spikes

In such cases A blood test for adrenaline could be the key to detecting a rare but dangerous condition.

Additional tips

• When taking blood, it is important to avoid fear or pain, because that in itself will increase adrenaline levels

• Perfectly — lying down or after resting in a quiet room

• Interprets the results endocrinologist — taking into account the clinical picture, other tests and imaging methods