Excretion of catecholamines and catecholamine metabolites in kwashiorkor

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Abstract
Urinary catecholamines and catecholamine metabolites were measured in patients at various stages of treatment for kwashiorkor and in patients with related diseases. EPI excretion increases, NE excretion is unaltered, and DA and VMA excretion are decreased in acute kwashiorkor. The increase in EPI excretion is probably secondary to the stresses of infection and hypoglycemia that accompany kwashiorkor. The decrease in urinary DA probably results from decreased ingestion of dietary dopa by the patients prior to and during the acute phase of their illness. The decreased urinary VMA during acute kwashiorkor in the presence of unaltered NE excretion may represent a decrease in NE catabolism.