Porphyria, Acute Hepatic

Alternate Name:

Test:

RBC porphyrins (H), U.aminolevulenic acid & por-phobilinogen [Watson-Schwartz test) (VH), faecal porphyrin (H), RBC porphobilinogen- deaminase porphyrin (H), RBC porphobilinogen- deaminase (L), BSP retention test (H), S.sodium (L), FBC (N)

Sign:

Dd:

All causes of acute abdomen, hyperthyroidism, eclampsia, hysteria

Phys:

Faulty pyrrole metabolism results in excessive se­cretion of porphyrins. Urine becomes dark brown when left standing. Various symptoms, including acute abdominal pain. Aggravated by barbitu­rates and oral contraceptives