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Vanillyl mandelic acid

Vanillyl mandelic acid
IUPAC name 2-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-
phenyl)acetic acid
Identifiers
CAS number 55-10-7
PubChem 1245
MeSH Vanilmandelic+acid
Properties
Molecular formula C9H10O5
Molar mass 198.173 g/mol
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Vanillyl mandelic acid (VMA) is a metabolite of the catecholamine: norepinephrine.

VMA is found in the urine, along with other catecholamine metabolites, including homovanillic acid (HVA). In timed urine tests the quantity (concentration μg /24 h) is assessed, along with creatinine clearance, and the concentration of cortisols, catecholamines, and metanephrines.

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.

 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Vanillyl_mandelic_acid". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.
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