Investigations of catecholamine metabolism using high-performance liquid chromatography: analytical methodology and clinical applications.

High-performance liquid chromatography, particularly in its reversed-phase mode, coupled with electrochemical or fluorometric detection, is becoming increasingly popular as an analytical tool for metabolic profiling of substances of neurochemical interest, such as catecholamines and their metabolites. During the last decade, a continued effort has been made to improve and simplify the analytical methodology for routine use in clinical laboratories where this technique is tremendously needed. New developments in column technology, reliable detectors, simplified sample cleanup procedures, and particularly better understanding of the complex physicochemical phenomena underlying the operation of electrochemical detection, have resulted in a steady and encouraging progress. The purpose of this review was to describe the current analytical methodology and recent applications of HPLC in the field of catecholamine metabolism. Although this discussion is by no means detailed and complete, it, at least, hints at the impact of this technique on biochemical investigations and its future potential in clinical laboratories.