Clinical Chemistry, Vol 11, 395-408, Copyright © 1965 by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry

Porphyrins and Chlorins from a Congenital Porphyria Patient

¹ Department of Chemistry, Immaculate Heart College, Los Angeles, Calif.

Analysis of porphyrins from the urine, blood, and feces of a congenital porphyria patient showed copro- and uroporphyrins from the blood contained more than 95% of the Type I isomer, and those from stool and urine, about 90%. The intermediate hepta-, hexa- and pentacarboxylic porphyrins from the urine contained 70% or less of the Type I isomer. The results are discussed and compared with those in porphyria cutanea tarda and from congenitally porphyric cattle. A new tricarboxylic porphyrin, its methyl ester with a melting point of 165° and an absorption band at 627 mµ in chloroform, was isolated from the feces. A urinary chlorin (643 mµ) was separated and studied, and a possible structure of a heptacarboxylic chlorin is suggested by its formation from porphobilinogen and by other pertinent data. Three fecal chlorins (with absorption bands at 646, 660, and 668 mµ) were also isolated. Only the one with 646 mµ absorption is relatively stable.