Erythrocyte δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase activity in thalassemia major and sickle-cell anemia

Abstract An enzyme deficiency has been postulated to account for the defect in hemoglobin synthesis in certain hereditary anemias. The enzyme necessary for the conversion of δ-aminolevulinic acid to porphobilinogen, an obligatory step in heme synthesis, was assayed. The values obtained from the circulating erythrocyte of patients with thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia were higher than normal.