Porphyrin levels in plasma and erythrocytes of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Plasma porphyrins and free erythrocyte protoporphyrins were measured in sixty-two chronic hemodialysis patients. Plasma porphyrins were significantly elevated in these patients and overlapped the lower portion of the range observed in twenty-four patients with porphyria cutanea tarda. Free erythrocyte protoporphyrins were moderately elevated in four patients. Overall, these values were not statistically different from values for a control group of specimens from fifty ambulatory dermatology patients. However, they were, on average, lower than the normal values previously determined for the method used.