Clinical aspects of porphyrin measurement, other than lead poisoning

Abstract

Measurement of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors has clinical significance beyond the detection or confirmation of lead poisoning. The porphyric diseases of man are characterized by the presence of a specific clinical syndrome and demonstration of abnormal porphyrin excretion or accumulation in the tissues. In addition, porphyrins accumulate in other disorders that are unrelated to lead poisoning or the porphyrias. These causes of erythrocyte porphyrin accumulation, porphyrinuria, and the porphyrias are discussed.