Fecal Porphyrins in Porphyria Acuta Intermittens, Porphyria Cutanea Tarda and Intoxicatio Plumbi

Abstract

Quantitative determinations were made of coproporphyrin (CP) and protoporphyrin (PP) in the feces from 26 patients with porphyria acuta intermittens (PAI), from 26 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), and from 32 workers in the lead industry. In about 4/5 of the PAI-patients the fecal excretion of CP was slightly increased, while almost half of them had a slightly increased excretion of PP. The ratio between PP and CP was normal, namely 6:1. of the patients with PCT, all showed an increased excretion of CP. Three-fifths of them also showed an increased excretion of PP. The excretion of CP was higher than among the patients with PA1 and the ratio PP/CP was about 1. Fecal excretion of porphyrins in the lead-workers was largely normal. The difference in the excretion patterns of porphyrins and their precursors in the urine and feces in PAI, PCT and in lead intoxication is elucidated.