Plasma catecholamines in Friedreich's ataxia assayed using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Resting levels of plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine were determined in 9 patients diagnosed as having Friedreich's Ataxia using a relatively new assay method, HPLC with electrochemical detection. Levels of norepinephrine and dopamine were found to be significantly elevated in patients as compared to controls while epinephrine, though increased, was not significantly higher. These results confirm in most parts previous findings of Pasternak et al. of increased plasma catecholamines and demonstrate the sensitivity and utility of the present method for the routine assay of plasma catecholamines.