Effect of Hospitalization on Urinary Catecholamine Excretion in Patients with Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

Effect of Hospitalization on Urinary Catecholamine Excretion in Patients with Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome: Mieko IWAMOTO, et al. Department of Hygiene, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine—The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hospitalization for five weeks on the autonomic nervous activity of patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAYS). Urine samples were collected from ten patients with HAVS before, during, and after hospitalization. Amounts of urinary free catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine) were measured. Urinary excretion of norepinephrine and dopamine during hospitalization was significantly lower than that before hospitalization. The effect of hospitalization continued for 10 days after hospitalization. The results of this study suggest that hospitalization is useful for the treatment of patients with HAVS to reduce the sympathetic hyperactivity. (J Occup Health 2001; 43: 70-74)