Vanillylmandelic acid
Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) is a metabolite of catecholamines dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. It is used as a reagent to detect disorders related to these catecholamines, particularly tumors such as pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma.
Pronunciation
Vanillylmandelic acid is pronounced as va-nil-yl-man-de-lic acid.
Etymology
The term "Vanillylmandelic acid" is derived from its structure, which is a combination of vanillin and mandelic acid.
Biochemical Role
Vanillylmandelic acid is a major end product of catecholamine metabolism. It is produced via the action of the enzyme monoamine oxidase on epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are then further metabolized by catechol-O-methyltransferase to VMA.
Clinical Significance
Measurement of VMA levels in urine is a diagnostic test for pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma. Elevated levels of VMA are indicative of these conditions. However, it is not a definitive test and further diagnostic procedures are required to confirm the diagnosis.
Related Terms
- Catecholamines
- Dopamine
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
- Pheochromocytoma
- Neuroblastoma
- Monoamine oxidase
- Catechol-O-methyltransferase
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Vanillylmandelic acid
- Wikipedia's article - Vanillylmandelic acid
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski