Factitious pheochromocytoma: novel mimickry by Valsalva maneuver and clues to diagnosis

Abstract

Factitious pheochromocytoma usually occurs in patients surreptitiously ingesting adrenergic medications. We encountered a case of factitious pheochromocytoma where in the subject mimicked hemodynamic (profound hypertension) and biochemical (plasma catecholamine elevation) manifestations of the illness by consciously altering autonomic function with Valsalva maneuver. Clues to this presentation included visible performance of Valsalva maneuver, marked disparity between blood pressures recorded in the presence and absence of the subject's knowledge, normal urinary catecholamine and metabolite excretion, and normal plasma chromogranin A. We reproduced, in part, the hemodynamic and biochemical manifestations of this presentation with Valsalva maneuver in healthy subjects.