Porphyrins - Urine

Alternative Names:
Urine uroporphyrin; Urine coproporphyrin

Porphyrins are organic compounds, one of them being hemoglobin, the protein in the red blood cells which carries oxygen in the blood. Porphyrins can be best measured in the urine.

High levels of porphyrins found in urine can be closely tied to lead (Pb) intoxication, and to long-term mercury (Hg) exposure in adults and children, especially the autistic. Porphyrin changes in the urine analysis can also be used as a biomarker for adults who are exposed to elemental mercury (Hg) in the workplace.

Symptoms of porphyria can also be seen in other diseases, making this a difficult diagnosis.

There is the Neurologic (or acute) Porphyria, which primarily affects the nervous system & the Cutaneous Porphyria, which primarily affects the skin. Both of these may be triggered by drugs, alcohol, and other environmental factors such as diet, stress, and illness.

The first and easiest step is to monitor porphyrins in the urine. This helps to determine which type of porphyrin is present.

Measuring porphyrins in plasma or other fluids is not necessary to make a diagnosis.

Test material: 10-15ml Urine

Provided Tests:
Porphyrins, Total, Urine
Porphyrins, Quantitative, Urine