Background: Neuroblastoma is a common solid tumor of childhood and is often associated with hypertension. Potential etiologies contributing to hypertension include renal compression, pain, volume overload, and catecholamine secretion.
Cases: We completed a single center retrospective review of children with neuroblastoma and ≥stage II hypertension (per Hypertension Canada guidelines) over a 2-year period. All patients (n = 10) had elevated urine normetanephrine levels and eight had intra-abdominal tumors. Four patients had refractory hypertension requiring > three agents, of which three required alpha/beta blockade.
Conclusion: Although multifactorial, hypertension in neuroblastoma often has a neuroendocrine component. Excess normetanephrine production in neuroblastoma may be a more common hypertensive mechanism than previously appreciated. Urinary normetanephrine elevation could suggest potential neuroendocrine-mediated hypertension.
Keywords: catecholamine; hypertension; metanephrine; neuroblastoma.
© 2021 The Authors. Cancer Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.