Erythrocyte δ-Aminolaevulinic Acid Dehydratase, Urinary Porphyrins and Porphyrin Precursors in Iron Deficiency Anaemia

In 20 iron deficient patients and 21 normal controls the activity of the enzyme δ-ALA dehydratase of erythrocytes was assayed. In addition the urine porphyrins and porphyrin precursor excretions were measured. It was found that in sideropenic patients the erythrocyte δ-ALA dehydratase activity was almost constantly higher than in normals; the difference of the mean values being statistically significant (p δ-ALA (p