A porphyrin-soaked diaper

Claus A. Pierach, Hellmut Ippen

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

Abstract

To the Editor: The superb photographs of a diaper soaked with urine containing a high porphyrin level (Jan. 13 issue)1 warrant additional clarification so as not to mislead readers1. No specific diagnosis beyond porphyria is given, and it should be understood that fluorescence of a diaper under Wood's light, as shown in the image, is typically encountered only in congenital erythropoietic porphyria (Gunther's disease), which is one of the rarest porphyrias2. Since this test or observation is of no value in the other porphyrias, detailed diagnostic tests have to follow the initial suspicion in order to ascertain the.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1690
Number of pages1
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume330
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 9 1994
Externally publishedYes

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