Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effect of long-term catecholamine excess in pheochromocytoma on leukocyte and platelet count and on proteins of acute-phase response. Methods: Fifteen subjects with pheochromocytoma, 16 with primary aldosteronism, 18 with essential hypertension and 17 healthy controls were studied. Sixteen subjects with pheochromocytoma were investigated after tumor removal. Leukocyte, neutrophil and platelet count, as well as C-reactive protein were measured in all subjects, while fibrinogen, α<sub>1</sub>-antitrypsin, α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin, orosomucoid, transferrin and prealbumin were only measured in subjects with pheochromocytoma, primary aldosteronism and essential hypertension. Results: Subjects with pheochromocytoma showed significantly higher leukocyte [7.5 ± 0.9 10<sup>9</sup>/l, p < 0.001 vs. primary aldosteronism (5.4 ± 0.9 10<sup>9</sup>/l) and healthy controls (5 ± 0.9 10<sup>9</sup>/l), p = 0.04 vs. essential hypertension (6.3 ± 1.6 10<sup>9</sup>/l)], neutrophil (p < 0.001 vs. primary aldosteronism and healthy subjects) and platelet counts (p < 0.001 vs. primary aldosteronism; p = 0.01 vs. essential hypertension) compared to the other groups of subjects. Similar results were obtained for positive proteins of acute-phase response in subjects with pheochromocytoma [C-reactive protein: 0.62 ± 0.52 mg/dl, p < 0.001 vs. healthy subjects (0.08 ± 0.08 mg/dl), p = 0.001 vs. primary aldosteronism (0.17 ± 0.19 mg/dl), p = 0.04 vs. essential hypertension (0.31 ± 0.26 mg/dl); fibrinogen: p = 0.02 vs. primary aldosteronism; orosomucoid: p = 0.005 vs. primary aldosteronism; α<sub>2</sub>-macroglobulin: p = 0.009 vs. primary aldosteronism]. No significant differences were found in plasma levels of α<sub>1</sub>-antitrypsin, transferrin and prealbumin. Tumor removal led to a significant decrease in leukocyte (p = 0.004), neutrophil (p = 0.007) and platelet count (p = 0.003) and also to a significant decrease in acute-phase proteins (C-reactive protein: p = 0.03, fibrinogen: p = 0.008, α<sub>1</sub>-antitrypsin: p = 0.003, orosomucoid: p = 0.04). Conclusions: Chronic catecholamine excess in pheochromocytoma is accompanied by an increase in inflammation markers which was reversed by the tumor removal.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.