Metabolism and secretion mechanism of catecholamine syndrome and related treatment strategies

Abstract

: Catecholamine syndrome, also known as pheochromocytoma, is a kind of tumor that originate from adrenal or extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue, secreting a large amount of catecholamines. Some typical gene mutations such as VHL, RET and NF1 play roles in the development of pheochromocytoma. Besides, headache, sweating, and palpitations are the usual manifestations of pheochromocytoma. Most clinical symptoms such as hypertension, headache, sweating and palpitation are related to excessive catecholamine secretion. Though preoperative pretreatment with α-blockers was routine before pheochromocytoma surgery, it showed a lot of limitations because the blockage took effect after catecholamine releasing. Thus, blocking catecholamine production before its releasing shows great significance. For this purpose, in this review, we described the synthesis and metabolic process of catecholamines, the ion channels associated with catecholamine secretion and the influencing factors of the section of catecholamine. We then discussed the related treatment strategies which based on the metabolism and secretion of catecholamine to lay a foundation for the clinical medication of pheochromocytoma.