Importance of 5-HIAA

When serotonin breaks down in your body, it becomes 5-HIAA. When you have Carcinoid Syndrome, you may have high levels of 5-HIAA in your blood and urine due to the overproduction of serotonin by NETs. Talk to your doctor about the importance of measuring 5-HIAA.

If you’ve been diagnosed with NETs, it’s important to get your 5-HIAA levels checked. Frequency may depend on your tumor size and location, as well as your treatment plan. Your doctor will test your levels using a blood or urine sample. This test can also help your doctor monitor your condition for signs of carcinoid heart disease

DID YOU KNOW ?

You can also measure serotonin directly.

Remember: It is important that your doctor continues to test your 5-HIAA levels. Monitoring your disease for heart valve damage with an echocardiogram is also recommended.

5-HIAA=5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid; NET=neuroendocrine tumor.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CARCINOID SYNDROME AND SEROTONIN

FIND OUT WHAT CAUSES CARCINOID SYNDROME DIARRHEA

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