Porphyrin biosynthesis in the erythrocytes of patients with sideropenic anaemias.

The ability of erythrocytes to synthesize porphyrins from delta-aminolaevulic acid was compared in healthy people, patients with true iron-deficiency anaemia, and anaemic patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Porphyrin synthesis was found to be impaired in true iron deficiency but not in rheumatoid arthritis cases showing a similar degree of anaemia. The delta-aminolaevulic acid dehydratase activity and the rate of porphobilinogen synthesis did not differ in the three groups studied.