Capillary versus arterial plasma catecholamines as markers for sympatho-adrenal activity in infants.

In this study, we investigated whether capillary plasma catecholamines can be used as a suitable substitute for arterial catecholamines. Analysis was done radioenzymatically. Catecholamine concentrations were not different in arterial and simultaneously collected "arterialized" (warmed foot) capillary plasma obtained by heel-prick from 18 neonatal intensive care patients as assessed by linear regression analysis (correlation coefficient: 0.