Thorax 1982;37:632-633 Alpha-methyltyrosine in the management of phaeochromocytoma

Patients with phaeochromocytoma are usually treated with a combination of a- and,8-receptor-blocking drugs in pre-paration for adrenal surgery. ' Beta-blockers are, however, contraindicated in patients with obstructive airways disease or heart failure. We report a patient in whom this medica-tion was contraindicated on both grounds; she had cor pulmonale associated with severe chronic obstructive air-ways disease and bronchiectasis. We used the tyrosine hyd-rolase inhibitor a-methyltyrosine to block catecholamine synthesis and control pulse and blood pressure before surgery. Case report A 37-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with severe bronchopneumonia and cor pulmonale. She had had chronic obstructive airways disease with bronchiectasi