Epinephrine Tolerance Test

WHAT IS EPINEPHRINE TOLERANCE TEST?

Epinephrine tolerance test can also be called “Epinephrine Blood Test“, “Adrenaline Blood Test” or “Epinephrine Test”.

Epinephrine tolerance test is regarded as the examination of the liver glycogen by measuring the blood sugar response to a dose of epinephrine. Epinephrine can also be known as adrenaline is secreted by the medulla of the adrenal glands which functions basically to increment cardiac result and pump glucose levels present in the blood.

Epinephrine is a medication is utilized mainly to treat various conditions like cardiac arrest, anaphylaxis, and even superficial bleeding while inhaling the epinephrine is utilized for enhancing the symptoms of croup and it can also be used for patients diagnosed with asthma when other forms of treatment are deemed unresponsive or ineffective.

This epinephrine can be injected with the aid of an intravenous infusion which is injected into a muscle or by injection just under the skin or by inhaling the adrenaline. 

This epinephrine can result in shakiness, sweating, or even anxiety as it may increase the heart rate to a fast rhythm or abnormal heartbeat and spike the blood pressure in the body.

PURPOSE OF EPINEPHRINE TOLERANCE TEST

The epinephrine blood test is done to assess the metabolism of the liver glycogen by evaluating the response of the blood sugar to a dosage of adrenaline. 

When a meal eaten contains protein or carbohydrates and it becomes digested, the level of the blood glucose rises and the insulin is secreted attributed to the action of the pancreas. 

This blood glucose enters into the cells of the liver and the insulin acts on these cells to instigate an action of some enzymes including the glycogen synthase. These glucose molecules will then be added to these chains of glycogen as far as both the glucose and insulin remain in a large quantity. 

At this phase, the liver takes more glucose from the blood than it comes out. But when the food is digested and the glucose level begins to drop which in turn reduces insulin secretion then glycogen synthesis is stopped. 

Therefore, glucose derived from liver glycogen becomes the primary source of level in blood glucose used to fuel the rest of the body for the next 8 to 12 hours.

Therefore, the epinephrine tolerance test is done to diagnose people having liver diseases and inherited deficiency of enzymes that eventually degrades the glycogen to glucose which indicates a subnormal response.

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE EPINEPHRINE TEST

Patients with liver disease or deficiency in enzymes can undergo this test but it has not been fully established if the test can be used for pregnant women alongside breastfeeding mothers.

HOW TO TEST FOR EPINEPHRINE LEVELS

Epinephrine speeds up the rate of reaction for the successful conversion of the liver glycogen. The storage form of glucose to blood glucose or rise from 40 to 60 mg per 100ml of blood might be observed in the next hour of injection after the epinephrine has been injected. 

EPINEPHRINE TOLERANCE TEST RESULT

If the patient has liver disease, the glycogen conversion will indicate abnormalities but if not, the liver glycogen shows a normal response.

EPINEPHRINE TOLERANCE TEST SIDE EFFECTS

Possible side effects are listed below:

1. Anxiety.
2. High blood pressure.
3. Sweating profusely.
4. Shakiness.

SPECIALIST

Any well-trained medical professional can perform the test.

FAQs

• What happens if you have too much epinephrine?

Excessive epinephrine in the bloodstream might lead to severe headache, weakness, numbness, blurred vision, chills, sweating, pain in the chest, shortness of breath irregular heartbeat rhythm.

• How long does epinephrine stay in your system?

Epinephrine tends to remain active in the system for six hours and the levels are concentrated during the first few hours and then decline slowly till it becomes inactive.

• How can epinephrine be reduced?

Epinephrine can be controlled with the aid of techniques like deep breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation.

• What is the mechanism of action of epinephrine?

In this case, the epinephrine instigates the increase in the contraction of the vascular smooth muscle, intestinal sphincter, and pupillary dilator. This is done through the action of the alpha-1 receptors.

• What causes high epinephrine levels?

Conditions like chronic stress, tumors, or obesity can influence the spike in epinephrine levels and affect the glands which leads to excessive production of epinephrine.