Studies on porphyrin biosynthesis in erythrocytes after incubation with delta-aminolaevulinic acid in patients with acute leukemia.

Biosynthesis of porphyrins in erythrocytes after incubation with delta-aminolevulinic acid was studied by the method of IDELSON in a control group of 30 healthy males and females as well as in 13 patients (7 females and 6 males) followed up during the initial stage, in remission and relapse of acute leukemia. The total amount of synthesized porphyrins was increased at the onset and in relapse as compared with healthy controls on account of the increased biosynthesis of coproporphyrin. Reversely, the amount of synthesized porphobilinogen and protoporphyrin was decreased. During the initial stage and in relapse of acute leukemia the percentage of residual delta-amino-levulinic acid displayed no significant differences while the percentage of disappeared delta-aminolevulinic acid was increased. During the stage of remission an activation of biosynthesis of porphyrins and porphobilinogen was observed as compared with the controls. The changes established are possibly associated with the pathogenesis of the anaemic syndrome in patients with acute leukemia at the initial stage, in remission and relapse.