Metanephrines test is ordered when a healthcare provider either suspects that someone has a catecholamine-secreting tumor or wants to rule out the possibility. It may be ordered when a person (especially a person younger than age 40) has sudden bursts of signs and symptoms such as:
High blood pressure
Severe headaches
Sweating
Flushing
Rapid heart rate
Tremor
You also may have fever, chest pain, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, tremors, heat intolerance, and weight loss.
If a person has only moderately elevated metanephrines, then the healthcare provider may re-evaluate the person's medications, diet, and stress level to look for interfering substances or conditions. Once these are resolved, the person may be tested again to determine whether the metanephrines are still elevated and take appropriate action. Sometimes the 24-hour urine metanephrines test will be done in conjunction with plasma free metanephrines testing and/or followed by catecholamines testing to help decide if a catecholamine-secreting tumor is present.