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Effect of age on homovanillic and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid levels in plasma

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Abstract

The plasma levels of homovanillic and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acids have been determined in 524 normal subjects ranging from birth to 49 years of age using a mass fragmentographic method. The mean concentration of homovanillic acid in plasma declines exponentially from the age of 1 day (x=2342.0 nmol/l, 426.6 ng/ml) to adulthood (x=60 nmol/l, 10.9 ng/ml). 4-Hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid behaves in a similar although not so extreme manner (392 nmol/l, 77.6 ng/ml–50 nmol/l, 10 ng/ml).

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Abbreviations

HVA:

homovanillic acid

HMMA:

4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid

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Hunneman, D.H., Jonas, W., Gabriel, M. et al. Effect of age on homovanillic and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymandelic acid levels in plasma. Eur J Pediatr 145, 555–557 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02429064

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02429064

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