Dopamine and catecholamines in cystic fibrosis in response to a marathon race.

The excretions of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) metabolites and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were followed before, during, and after a marathon race in three patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and three healthy controls. Moderately increased DOPA excretions in CFs compared with controls before, during, and after the race support the idea that there is an altered metabolism of DOPA in CF. Noradrenaline, adrenaline, homovanillic acid, and vanilmandelic acid were increased in CFs compared with controls mainly during and after the race, which might be a reflection of the heavier working intensity that the CF patients had in comparison with their healthy controls. 5-HIAA, the breakdown product of serotonin, was higher in CFs in comparison with controls before and during the run, but equal thereafter. This reflects an ameliorated serotonin metabolism after the run.