Vanillylmandelic Acid, Homovanillic Acid, and Catecholamines in Urine of Infants with Neuroblastoma 6- to 11-Month-Old

The amounts of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and catecholamines (adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine) in 24-hr urine specimens of 10 infants with neuroblastoma detected through mass screening in Sapporo City (patient group) were compared with those of 24 healthy infants (control group). The ages of the infants of both groups ranged from 6 to 11 months, which agrees with the age when mass screening is performed. For VMA and HVA, the mean value plus two or three times the standard deviation of the control group clearly separated the two groups in the units of mg/day, microgram/mg of creatinine, mg/kg/day, and mg/m2/day. The cut off values of 24 micrograms/mg of creatinine for VMA and 25 micrograms/mg of creatinine for HVA are now being used by us for assaying 24-hr urine specimens. No significant difference was found between the groups in levels of catecholamines, but their data were thought to be useful as normal values, since few published data regarding their normal values are available.