Diagnosis of a Case of Acute Intermittent Porphyria with the Aid of Thin-Layer Chromatography—Thin-Layer Electrophoresis of Urine

[摘要] δ-Aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen were identified in urine from a patient with acute intermittent porphyria on routine amino acid chromatography. The compounds were well and rapidly separated by a two-dimensional combination of high-voltage, thin-layer electrophoresis and chromatography. Both compounds gave a yellowish color with ninhydrin; the porphobilinogen gave a strong red color when Ehrlich’s reagent was then applied. Such a pattern has not been observed in any blood and urinary amino acid chromatograms from over 900 patients with other conditions, who were receiving a variety of drugs. We consider this a rapid, specific diagnostic aid in cases of acute intermittent porphyria.

[学科分类] 过敏症与临床免疫学