Clinical Chemistry I

At the end of this course, students should be able to: 1. acquire knowledge and skill required for the laboratory investigation of porphyrinaemia; 2. describe the laboratory investigation of porphyria; and 3. discuss laboratory investigation of porphyrinuria.

Porphyrin, causes, symptoms and laboratory investigation of porphyrinaemia, porphyria and Porphyrinuria, Haemoglobin, synthesis, function. Glycosylated haemoglobins. Abnormal haemoglobins and haemoglobinopathies, Liver function Tests. Mechanism of Enzyme action and kinetics: Clinical Enzymology; Isoenzymes in medicine, Coenzymes and Vitamins. Definition, causes, consequences and investigation of some inborn errors of metabolism; Phenylketonuria, galactosaemia fructose intolerance, Albinism, aminoaciduria, Endocrine glands and functions; the hypothalamus, the pituitary, the parathyroid, adrenal cortex, adrenal medulla, the gonads and reproductive endocrinology. Foeto-placental function. Calcium and bone metabolism. Pancreatic function tests. Basic neurochemistry, CSF – normal composition and changes in disease.