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Olli Mustala, MD
Helsinki

JAMA. 1970;214(9):1709.

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To the Editor.—

The article "False-Positive Tests for Urinary 5-Hydroxyindole-acetic Acid: Error in Laboratory Determination Caused by Glyceryl Guaiacolate" by Pedersen et al (211:1184, 1970) is an example of how inadequate use of the medical literature leads to unnecessary duplication and waste of scientific effort. Eight years ago Pitkänen et al¹ described a patient who was operated on for a carcinoid syndrome because of a falsely elevated test for 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5HIAA) caused by the ingestion of glyceryl guaiacolate. This inaccurate result was obtained using the method of Udenfriend et al.² Indeed, it was known even prior to this case report that a metabolite of glyceryl guaiacolate yielded a colored product in the nitrosonaphthol reaction if pretreatment was not included.³ In the article by Pitkänen et al all the facts were detailed which are now eight years later presented by Pedersen et al.

The nature and . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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