Renal functional status and patterns of catecholamine excretion

Twenty-four hour urinary catecholamine measurements were obtained in seven normal individuals and 23 patients with essential hypertension or renal disease. As renal function decreased, large reductions in the excretion of free catecholamines and total dopamine were measured. Since urinary catecholamine measurements are used for diagnostic and physiologic studies, our data indicate a need to assess renal function for accurate interpretation of these measurements. Our results are also consistent with a renal origin for a major portion of the urinary dopamine content.