A dark red, almost purple, porphyrin resulting from the decomposition of hemoglobin; chemical composition is that of heme with the iron removed and the two vinyl (–CH=CH2) groups hydrated to hydroxyethyl (–CH(OH)–CH3). SYN: hemoporphyrin.
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he·ma·to·por·phy·rin or chiefly Brit hae·ma·to·por·phy·rin .hē-mət-ə-'pȯr-fə-rənalso .hem-ət- n any of several isomeric porphyrins C34H38O6N4 that are hydrated derivatives of protoporphyrins esp the deep red crystalline pigment obtained by treating hematin or heme with acid
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he·ma·to·por·phy·rin (he″mə-to-) (hem″ə-to-porґfə-rin) a dark red to purple pigment, a porphyrin (q.v.) in which two pyrrole rings have one methyl and one propionate side chain and the other two pyrrole rings have one methyl and one 1-hydroxyethyl side chain.Medical dictionary. 2011.