Urinary catecholamines and their metabolites in kwashiorkor

Fractionation of urinary catecholamines and their metabolites was estimated in 13 kwashiorkor and 6 normal control children. The free and total as well as conjugated fractions were included in this study. Total free catecholamines in kwashiorkor were slightly, though significantly decreased. This decrease was most pronounced in the epinephrine and dopamine fractions. The total urinary catecholamines in kwashiorkor were not statistically different from the controls, except for epinephrine, which was significantly increased while that of norepinephrine was highly significantly decreased. The total conjugated catecholamines in kwashiorkor were not statistically different from the controls, except the epinephrine fraction, which was markedly increased while that of norepinephrine and its metabolite normetanephrine were slightly significantly decreased.