URINE FOR PORPHOBILINOGEN

Overview

To look for Porphobillinogen in urine. Seen in Inherited disorders like Acute intermittent porphyria, Congenital erythropoietic porphyria and Acquired disorders like Due to toxic agents such as heavy metals, chemicals, acute alcoholism and cirrhosis. Increased porphobilinogen (PBG) in urine is pathognomonic of an attack or crisis of acute porphyria acute intermittent porphyria, variegate porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria the absence of increased urinary PBG in a suspected attack excludes the diagnosis. Some patients, especially with acute intermittent porphyria, excrete excess PBG even in remission, but in an attack, this increases above their generally characteristic basal concentrations.