Abstract

In a study of the urinary excretion of haem precursors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, iron-deficiency anaemia, and in healthy controls, certain differences were found.

In iron-deficiency anaemia the excretion of both porphobilinogen and δ-aminolevulinic acid was increased, whereas in patients with rheumatoid arthritis only the porphobilinogen excretion was increased.

A further study on the erythrocyte activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase showed a higher activity in the erythrocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with healthy controls.