[A new method for the clinical determination of urinary porphobilinogen and delta-aminolevulinic acid].

A new method has been developed for clinical determination of porphobilinogen and delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine. Compared with the method of Mauzerall and Granick, being the most commonly used method for clinical application, there is an essential reduction of work and needed time. During the flow of 0.5 ml urine on a 0.7 cm x 2 cm column of macroporous cation exchange resin in H+-form porphobilinogen and delta-aminolevulinic acid are bound to the resin. After rinsing the column with 3 ml N acetic acid and 1 ml H2O the bound hemprecursors were eluted with 5 ml buffer. Concentration of porphobilinogen and of the pyrrol, synthesized from delta-aminolevulinic acid by Knorr-reaction is measured photometrically at 546 nm after Ehrich-reaction. After a short-time regeneration of columns -- 5 ml buffer, 3 ml N acetic acid -- these columns can be reused at least 20 times.