dictionary help| 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid | medical dictionary |
<biochemistry> This is a metabolite of serotonin that is excreted in the urine.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is synthesised from the amino acid tryptophan by enterochromaffin cells in the gut and bronchi. It is metabolised to 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid in the liver and then excreted in the urine.
Elevations in 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid can indicate carcinoid tumour. The normal range in a 24 hour urine collection is 3 to 15 mg per 24 hours.
Acronym: 5-HIAA
Abbreviation: 5-HIAA
(13 Nov 1997)
5'-guanylic acid, 5-HIAA, 5-HT, 5-hydroxyeicosanoid dehydrogenase < Prev | Next > 5-hydroxylysine, 5-hydroxy-N-methylpyroglutamic acid synthetase
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