The diagnostic value of blood plasma porphyrin methyl ester profiles produced by quantitative TLC

1. 1. The red blood cell and plasma porphyrins from five varieties of porphyric patients have been studied and compared with normals. 2. 2. The porphyrins were extracted as their methyl esters, separated by thin layer chromatography and measured by quantitative fluoroscanning on a densitometer. 3. 3. The red blood cell porphyrins in only erythropoietic protoporphyria were shown to be significantly elevated. 4. 4. Distinctive plasma porphyrin profiles were demonstrated for each of the five porphyrias even when total plasma porphyrin amounts were only slightly elevated. 5. 5. A marker porphyrin. Pu, in the plasmas of variegate porphyries was shown to be a complex of coproporphyrin and an as yet unspecified molecule. 6. 6. The relationship between plasma porphyrins and cutaneous involvement is discussed.