The Delta Aminolevulinic Acid, Urine, 24 Hour test can help diagnose porphyrias, lead or mercury poisoning and aid in the evaluation of certain neurological problems with abdominal pain.
Delta Aminolevulinic Acid may be increased in attacks of acute intermittent porphyria. Acute intermittent porphyria is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by a deficiency of hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS). It presents with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, peripheral neuropathy, and seizures. Treatment for acute attacks is intravenous heme.
Delta Aminolevulinic Acid is also increased also in tyrosinemia. Tyrosinemia is a genetic disorder characterized by problems breaking down the amino acid tyrosine, which is a building block of most proteins. If the condition is untreated, tyrosine and its byproducts build up in tissues and organs, which can lead to serious health problems.
References:
Sassa S, Kappas A. Hereditary tyrosinemia and the heme biosynthetic pathway. Profound inhibition of delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activity by succinylacetone. J Clin Invest. 1983 Mar;71(3):625-34. doi: 10.1172/jci110809. PMID: 6826727; PMCID: PMC436912.
Felitsyn N, McLeod C, Shroads AL, Stacpoole PW, Notterpek L. The heme precursor delta-aminolevulinate blocks peripheral myelin formation. J Neurochem. 2008 Sep;106(5):2068-79. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2008.05552.x. Epub 2008 Jul 4. PMID: 18665889; PMCID: PMC2574579.
Delta Aminolevulinic Acid, Urine, 24 Hour
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