Is porphyrin in urine normal?

The normal range for a 24-hour porphyrins urine test is about 50 to 300 milligrams, although results vary among different laboratories. Abnormal test results can indicate liver cancer, hepatitis, lead poisoning, or one of the different forms of porphyria.

What are porphyrins in urine?

Porphyrins are natural chemicals in the body that help form many important substances in the body. One of these is hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen in the blood. Porphyrins can be measured in the urine or blood.

What causes elevated porphyrins in urine?

Porphyria is rare and is often inherited. Acquired porphyria may result from iron or lead toxicity, alcohol use, hepatitis C, HIV, and some medicines. Porphyrins and related chemicals are made in your body as part of the process of making heme. Certain types of porphyria cause these chemicals to pass into your urine.

How is porphyria detected in urine?

To diagnose porphyrias, laboratories measure porphyrins and their precursors in urine, blood, and/or stool. Testing may include measurement of one or more of the following: Porphobilinogen (PBG), a porphyrin precursor, in urine. Delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), another porphyrin precursor, in urine.

What is normal porphyrin level?

Normal Results Total porphyrin levels: 0 to 1.0 mcg/dL (0 to 15 nmol/L) Coproporphyrin level: <2 mcg/dL (<30 nmol/L) Protoporphyrin level: 16 to 60 mcg/dL (0.28 to 1.07 µmol/L) Uroporphyrin level: <2 mcg/dL (<2.4 nmol/L)

What causes high porphyrin levels?

When exposed to the trigger, your body’s demand for heme production increases. This overwhelms the deficient enzyme, setting in motion a process that causes a buildup of porphyrins. Examples of triggers include: Exposure to sunlight.

Is porphyria a disease?

Porphyria (por-FEAR-e-uh) refers to a group of disorders that result from a buildup of natural chemicals that produce porphyrin in your body. Porphyrins are essential for the function of hemoglobin — a protein in your red blood cells that links to porphyrin, binds iron, and carries oxygen to your organs and tissues.

What is the life expectancy of someone with porphyria?

Patients with porphyria generally have a normal life expectancy. However, those with acute hepatic porphyria are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), which may reduce their lifespan.

What’s the normal range for a porphyrins urine test?

Return the container to the lab as soon as possible. The normal range for a 24-hour porphyrins urine test is about 50 to 300 milligrams, although results vary among different laboratories. Abnormal test results can indicate liver cancer, hepatitis, lead poisoning, or one of the different forms of porphyria.

Can a urine test tell if you have porphyria?

The total amount of porphyrins in a urine sample is easily measured. This is a useful test for screening especially when combined with ALA and PBG. But an increase in urine porphyrins is nonspecific, and may not be an indication of an acute Porphyria if ALA and PBG are normal. A variety of porphyrins are present in urine.

What causes porphyrins to pass into your urine?

Acquired porphyria may result from iron or lead toxicity, alcohol use, hepatitis C, HIV, and some medicines. Porphyrins and related chemicals are made in your body as part of the process of making heme. Certain types of porphyria cause these chemicals to pass into your urine.

Why do you need to test for porphyrins?

Porphyrins and related chemicals are made in your body as part of the process of making heme. Certain types of porphyria cause these chemicals to pass into your urine. Why do I need this test? You may need this test if your healthcare provider believes that you have porphyria.