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PORPHOBILINOGEN AND DELTA-AMINOLEVULINIC ACID EXCRETION IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

J D TAYLOR, L H PAZDER, V MARKLE

    Canadian Medical Association Journal
    |June 26, 1965
    PubMed

    Insights

    Urine delta-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen levels do not reliably diagnose multiple sclerosis or track its progression. Elevated levels in porphyria do not indicate demyelination, nor does demyelination always increase these specific urinary markers.

    Area of Science:

    • Neurology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease characterized by demyelination.
    • Elevated urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG) are associated with acute porphyria, a condition involving demyelination.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of urinary ALA and PBG levels in multiple sclerosis.
    • To determine if urinary ALA and PBG levels correlate with MS disease activity or progression.

    Main Methods:

    • Urine samples were collected from 31 patients with multiple sclerosis.
    • Urine ALA and PBG levels were compared to those of 51 healthy controls and 8 patients with poliomyelitis.
    • Urinary marker levels were analyzed in relation to MS exacerbations, remissions, and disease duration.

    Main Results:

    • Urinary ALA and PBG excretion in MS patients did not significantly differ from control groups.
    • No correlation was found between urinary ALA or PBG levels and MS disease activity (exacerbations, remissions) or duration.
    • Demyelination in MS is not consistently associated with increased urinary ALA or PBG levels.

    Conclusions:

    • Urinary ALA and PBG assays lack value in the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.
    • These biochemical markers are not useful for monitoring the severity or stage of multiple sclerosis.
    • The presence of demyelination does not necessitate elevated urinary ALA or PBG levels.
    Keywords:
    AMINO ACIDSDEMYELINATIONDIAGNOSIS, DIFFERENTIALEXCRETIONLEVULINIC ACIDMULTIPLE SCLEROSISPOLIOMYELITISPORPHYRIAPORPHYRINSPYRROLESURINE

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