Porphyrins - Urine
Alternate Names : Uroporphyrin
Pictures & Images
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Female Urinary Tract
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The female and male urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.
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Male Urinary Tract
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The male and female urinary tracts are relatively the same except for the length of the urethra.
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Porphyrin Urine Test
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The uroporphyrin test measures levels of porphyrins in urine. The most important function of porphyrins is as components of heme, which is made from iron plus protoporphyrin. Hemoglobin is made up of four globin proteins plus 4 heme groups. Oxygen binds to the iron in the heme molecules. Each step requires the presence of an enzyme. If any of the enzymes are deficient because of a genetic disease or inhibition by a toxic substance, a type of porphyria results.
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