5-HIAA
Alternate Names : 5-Hydroxyindole Acetic Acid, HIAA, Serotonin Metabolite
Definition This is a test that measures the amount of 5-HIAA in urine.
Why is the Test Performed?
This test is performed to evaluate the amount of 5-HIAA excreted by the body.
Serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan by hormone-producing enterochromaffin cells in the gut and bronchi (airways of the lung). Serotonin increases dilation of blood vessels and platelet aggregation (clumping of platelets). It is metabolized in the liver to 5-HIAA and eventually ends up in the urine.
|