STUDIES OF URINARY PIGMENTS IN PELLAGRA AND OTHER PATHOLOGICAL STATES. I. CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS

Abstract

Further evidence is provided that the Ellinger-Dojmi test, as employed by Beckh, Ellinger, and Spies in the study of pellagra urines, is non-specific, and is due mainly to urorosein rather than porphyrin. The latter substance is not significantly increased in urine samples exhibiting a positive Ellinger-Dojmi test. This test is correlated directly with the old Nencki-Sieber test for urorosein. The urorosein reaction is due to the presence of a chromogen (probably indolacetic acid) plus an oxidizing or nitrite-like substance. The latter appears to be more significant, since the former alone was commonly observed in normal urine samples. The appearance of indirubin-like compounds in the toluene preservative of urines from pellagra cases, as well as other pathological states, is not correlated with the urorosein reaction.