An Evaluation of a Recent Modification of the Watson-Schwartz Test for Porphobilinogen

Brief Communication1 February 1964An Evaluation of a Recent Modification of the Watson-Schwartz Test for PorphobilinogenJAMES D. TOWNSEND, M.D.JAMES D. TOWNSEND, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-60-2-306 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThe diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is ordinarily made by demonstrating the presence of porphobilinogen (PBG) in freshly passed urine. In 1941 Watson and Scwartz (1) described a simple test for the detection of this substance in the urine. In 1948 Hammond and Welker (2) reported that they were unable to find a single false positive in a thousand urine samples from routine hospital admissions. Because of this the test has been regarded as highly reliable, and the finding of a positive result is looked upon as almost pathognomonic of the disease. However, interpretation of the test may occasionally...References1. WATSONSCHWARTZ CJS: Simple test for urinary porphobilinogen. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 47: 393, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. HAMMONDWELKER RLML: Porphobilinogen tests on 1000 miscellaneous patients in search for false positive reactions. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 33: 1254, 1948. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. WATSONBOSSENMAIERCARDINAL CJIR: Acute intermittent porphyria. JAMA 175: 1087, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. SCHWARTZKEPRIOSSCHMID SMR: Experimental porphyria: type produced by lead, phenylhydrazine and light. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 79: 463-468, 1952. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. GOLDBERGRIMINGTON AC: Diseases of Porphyrin Metabolism, Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Illinois, 1962, p. 77. Google Scholar6. MAUZERALLGRANICK DS: Occurrence and determination of delta-aminolevulinic acid and porphobilinogen in urine. J. Biol. Chem. 219: 435-446, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. WATSON CJ: Some studies of nature and clinical significance of porphobilinogen. Arch. Intern. Med. 93: 643, 1954. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Walnut Creek, CaliforniaFrom the Kaiser Foundation Hospital, Walnut Creek, California.This work was supported by a grant from the Kaiser Foundation.Requests for reprints should be addressed to James D. Townsend, M.D., 1425 South Main Street, Walnut Creek, California. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByClinical Chemistry of the PorphyrinsCase 41-1975SCREENING FOR PORPHYRIA AMONG PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTSPseudopositiver Watson-Schwarz-Test durch TryptophanCaloripenic PorphyriaAcute Intermittent Porphyria A Clinical and Laboratory Study of a Large FamilyWILLIAM H. MAHOOD, M.D., JOHN H. KILLOUGH, M.D., F.A.C.P. 1 February 1964Volume 60, Issue 2_Part_1Page: 306-307KeywordsPorphyriaUrine Issue Published: 1 February 1964 PDF DownloadLoading ...