The inherited enzymatic defect in porphyria variegata

Abstract

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity and ferrochelatase activity have been measured in blood lymphocytes from patients with porphyria variegata, and from some members of the family of one patient; the mean activity of protoporphyrinogen oxidase from patients was about 50% of that in lymphocytes from normal subjects; similar results were obtained from asymptomatic carriers in two generations of the patient's family. This finding confirms that a protoporphyrinogen oxidase decreased activity reflects the primary genetic defect in Porphyria Variegata. Data of ferrochelatase activity have been found usually in the normal range and these results are discussed.