Urine porphyrins and their precursors in homozygous beta-thalassaemia.

In 68 patients with homozygous beta-thalassaemia the excretion of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors in urine has been assayed. Though a definite excretion pattern has not been established, the majority of the thalassaemics excrete an increased amount of coproporphyrin and porphobilinogen. The results are compared to those published by other authors.