Porphyrins - urine

Also known as: Uroporphyrin

Definition

Porphyrins help form many important substances in the body including hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the blood.

Porphyrins can be found in urine. A urine porphyrins test measures the amount of porphyrins in the urine.

How the test is performed

A 24-hour urine sample is needed.

• On day 1, urinate into the toilet when waking up in the morning.
• For the next 24 hours, every time you urinate, collect the urine in a special container. Keep it in the refrigerator or a cool place during the collection period.
• On day 2, urinate into the container in the morning when waking up. Close the container, and label it with your name, date, and time you finished.
• Return the container to your health care provider as instructed.

In infants:

Thoroughly wash the area around the urethra (the area where urine exits). Open the urine collection bag provided by your doctor. For boys, place the entire penis in the bag and attach it to the surrounding skin. For girls, place the bag over the labia.

You can diaper the baby as usual, over the collection bag.

Note: It may take a few tries to get the bag correctly into place. Check the infant frequently and change the bag after the infant has urinated. Drain the urine into the special container provided by your health care provider. Take the container to the laboratory or your health care provider as soon as possible.

How to prepare for the test

Extra collection bags may be necessary if the urine sample is being taken from an infant.

Your doctor may tell you to stop taking any medicines that may affect the test results. NEVER stop taking any medicine without first talking to your doctor.

Drugs that can affect test measurements include:

• Aminosalicylic acid
• Birth control pills
• Barbiturates
• Chloral hydrate
• Chlorpropamide
• Ethyl alcohol
• Griseofulvin
• Morphine
• Phenazopyridine
• Procaine
• Sulfonamides

How the test will feel

The test will feel the same as normal urination.

Why the test is performed

Your doctor will order this test if you have signs of porphyria or other disorders that can cause abnormal urine porphyrins.

Normal Values

Normal results vary. In general, for a 24-hour urine test, the range is about 50 - 300 mg (milligrams).

What abnormal results mean

Abnormal results may be due to:

• Liver cancer
• Hepatitis
• Lead poisoning
• Porphyria (several types)

References

Anderson K. The porphyrias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 229.

McPherson R, Ben-Ezra J, Zhao S. Basic examination of urine. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2006:chap 27.

See also:

• Disease

  Hepatitis

  

  Hepatitis is swelling and inflammation of the liver. It is not a condition, but is often used to refer to a viral infection of the liver.

• Test

  PBG test

  

  Porphobilinogen (PBG) is one of several types of porphyrins found in your body. Normally, your body breaks down porphyrins into heme, an important part of . Porphyrins usually leave your body through urine or stools. If this process is interrupted, porphyrins such as PBG can build up in your body. ...

• Test

  Delta-ALA

  

  Delta-ALA is a protein (amino acid) produced by the liver. A test can be done to measure the amount of this substance in your urine.

• Disease

  Hepatocellular carcinoma

  

  Hepatocellular carcinoma is cancer of the liver.

• Disease

  Porphyria

  

  Porphyrias are a group of rare disorders passed down through families, in which an important part of , called heme, is not made properly. Heme is also found in myoglobin, a protein found in certain muscles.

• Special Topic

  Enzyme

  Enzymes are complex proteins that cause a specific chemical change in other substances, without being changed themselves. For example, they can change , , and sugars into substances the body can use. Blood clotting is another example of enzymes at work. Enzymes are essential to all bodily ...

• Test

  Hemoglobin

  

  Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A blood test can tell how much hemoglobin you have in your blood. See also:

• Poison

  Lead poisoning

  Lead is a very strong poison. When a person swallows a lead object or breathes in lead dust, some of the poison can stay in the body and cause serious health problems.

Review date:

March 2, 2009

Reviewed by:

David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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