Elevation of blood lactate and pyruvate levels in acute intermittent porphyria--a reflection of haem deficiency?

ABSTRACT

Blood lactate concentrations after glucose loading were significantly higher in 6 patients with acute intermittent porphyria in clinical remission than in 6 control subjects and the percentage rise in glucose pyruvate and lactate concentrations were greater in the porphyric subjects than in the control group. It is postulated that the raised lactate levels in the porphyric patient group may reflect haem deficiency affecting the cytochromes of the terminal respiratory chain.