A study of porphyrin and hemoglobin metabolism with the aid of glycine containing N15, in a case of chronic (mixed) porphyria.

Significant variations in serum concentrations of Bromsulphalein obtained in some patients 45 minutes following the administration of a 5 mg./kg. dose of the dye, when repeated at daily or weekly intervals, made the test difficult to interpret. These fluctuations in retention were not observed or were insignificant at 30 minutes after the administration of a 2 mg./kg. dose. Since concentrations of Bromsulphalein in the duodenum may reach very high levels during the course of the test, an entero-hepatic circulation of the dye was considered as a possible explanation for these variations. Three types of procedures were used in this investigation to determine the following: (A) serum BSP concentrations after the intra-duodenal instillation of the dye; (B) the effect of duodenal aspiration of bile containing dye on serum BSP levels during intravenous tests; (C) the effect on serum dye concentrations of common duct aspiration of bile containing BSP during intravenous tests.