[Influence of chloroquine on the hexachlorobenzene-induced porphyria. Investigations in the skin, liver, and urine (author's transl)].

Rats were fed with a diet containing hexachlorobenzene (HCB) for about 60 days. At this time the porphyria was manifst as shown by significantly elevated porphyrins. Thereafter, chloroquine (CQ) was additionally given over a period of at lest 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment the urinary porphyrin excretion and the porphyrin content in lijver and skin were diminished in HCB-CQ-treated animals by about 50% compared to the HCB controls. The relative porphyrin distribution pattern was not influenced by CQ. In a further investigation the prophylactic effect of CQ could be demonstrated. Rats given CQ simultaneously from the beginning of the HCB feeding showed a significantly delayed onset of porphyria. It is concluded from our results that CQ does not only form complexes with porphyrins during the treatment of th HCB porphyria. We rather assume an effect of CQ on the metabolism of iron.