Electron Microscopy of the Red Cells in Erythropoietic Porphyria

With the aid of electron microscopy two different red cell lines have been identified in erythropoietic porphyria. A normal red cell series has been found in association with hemoglobin containing normoblastic nuclei and ferritin laden reticulocytes. The abnormal line presumably represents the porphyrin containing cells. A possible explanation to account for the abnormality in heme synthesis has been proposed.