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</div><div><span>Porphyria</span></div></div>
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</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Porphyria</h1>
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</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Porphyrias are a group of rare inherited disorders. An important part of <a test="test" href="./003645.htm">hemoglobin</a>, called heme, is not made properly. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Heme is also found in myoglobin, a protein found in certain muscles.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>Normally, the body makes heme in a multi-step process. Porphyrins are made during several steps of this process. People with porphyria are lacking certain <a test="test" href="./002353.htm">enzymes</a> needed for this process. This causes abnormal amounts of porphyrins or related chemicals to build up in the body.</p><p>There are many different forms of porphyria. The most common type is porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT).</p><p>Drugs, infection, alcohol, and hormones such as estrogen may trigger attacks of certain types of porphyria.</p><p>Porphyria is inherited. This means the disorder is passed down through families.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Porphyria causes three major symptoms:</p><ul><li>Abdominal pain or cramping (only in some forms of the disease)</li><li>Sensitivity to light that can cause rashes, blistering, and scarring of the skin (photodermatitis)</li><li>Problems with the nervous system and muscles (seizures, mental disturbances, nerve damage) </li></ul><p>Attacks can occur suddenly. They often start with severe abdominal pain followed by vomiting and constipation. Being out in the sun can cause pain, sensations of heat, blistering, and skin redness and swelling. Blisters heal slowly, often with scarring or skin color changes. The scarring may be disfiguring. Urine may turn red or brown after an attack.</p><p>Other symptoms include:</p><ul><li>Muscle pain</li><li>Muscle weakness or paralysis</li><li>Numbness or tingling</li><li>Pain in the arms or legs</li><li>Pain in the back</li><li>Personality changes or psychosis</li></ul><p>Attacks can sometimes be life threatening, producing:</p><ul><li>Low blood pressure</li><li>Severe electrolyte imbalances</li><li>Shock </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>Your health care provider will perform a physical exam, which includes listening to your heart. You may have a fast heart rate (tachycardia). The provider may find that your deep tendon reflexes (knee jerks or others) do not work properly.</p><p>Blood and urine tests may reveal kidney problems or other problems. Some of the other tests that may be done include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003855.htm">Blood gases</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003468.htm">Comprehensive metabolic panel</a></li><li>Porphyrin levels and levels of other chemicals linked to this condition (checked in the <a test="test" href="./003372.htm">blood</a> or
<a test="test" href="./003614.htm">urine</a>)</li><li><a test="test" href="./003777.htm">Ultrasound of the abdomen</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003579.htm">Urinalysis</a></li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>Some of the medicines used to treat a sudden (acute) attack of porphyria may include:</p><ul><li>Hematin given through a vein (<a test="test" href="./002383.htm">intravenously</a>)</li><li>Pain medicine</li><li>Propranolol to control the heartbeat</li><li>Sedatives to help you feel calm and less anxious </li></ul><p>Other treatments may include:</p><ul><li>Beta-carotene supplements to lessen photosensitivity</li><li>Chloroquine in low doses to reduce levels of porphyrins</li><li>Fluids and glucose to boost <a test="test" href="./002469.htm">carbohydrate</a> levels, which helps limit the production of porphyrins</li><li>Removal of blood (phlebotomy) to reduce levels of porphyrins</li></ul><p>Depending on the type of porphyria you have, your provider may tell you to:</p><ul><li>Avoid all alcohol</li><li>Avoid certain drugs that may trigger an attack</li><li>Avoid injuring the skin</li><li>Avoid sunlight as much as possible and use sunscreen when outside</li><li>Eat a high-carbohydrate diet </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Support Groups</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>More information and support for people with porphyria and their families can be found at:</p><ul><li>American Porphyria Foundation -- <a class="extln" target="_blank" href="https://porphyriafoundation.org/for-patients/patient-portal/">porphyriafoundation.org/for-patients/patient-portal/</a></li><li>National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases -- <a class="extln" target="_blank" href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/porphyria">www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/porphyria</a></li><li>National Organization for Rare Disorders -- <a class="extln" target="_blank" href="https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/porphyria/">rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/porphyria/</a></li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Porphyria is a life-long disease with symptoms that come and go. Some forms of the disease cause more symptoms than others. Getting proper treatment and staying away from triggers can help lengthen the time between attacks.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Possible Complications</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Complications may include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003202.htm">Coma</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000273.htm">Gallstones</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003190.htm">Paralysis</a></li><li>Respiratory failure (due to weakness of chest muscles)</li><li>Scarring of the skin </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>Get medical help as soon as you have signs of an acute attack. Talk to your provider about your risk for this condition if you have a long history of undiagnosed abdominal pain, muscle and nerve problems, and sensitivity to sunlight. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Prevention</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-9" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-9"><p><a test="test" href="../patientinstructions/000510.htm">Genetic counseling</a> may benefit people who want to have children and who have a family history of any type of porphyria.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Porphyria cutanea tarda; Acute intermittent porphyria; Hereditary coproporphyria; Congenital erythropoietic porphyria; Erythropoietic protoporphyria</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/2573t.jpg" alt="Porphyria cutanea tarda on the hands" title="Porphyria cutanea tarda on the hands" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/2573.htm">Porphyria cutanea tarda on the hands</a></li>
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Balwani M, Desnick RJ, Anderson KE. The porphyrias. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. <em>Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics</em>. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 110.</p><p>Dinulos JGH. Light-related diseases and disorders of pigmentation. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. <em>Habif's Clinical Dermatology</em>. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 19.</p><p>Fuller SJ, Wiley JS. Heme biosynthesis and its disorders: porphyrias and sideroblastic anemias. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. <em>Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice</em>. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 39.</p><p>Hift RJ. The porphyrias. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 199.</p></div></div></section>
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 2/2/2023</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
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<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Monsey, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
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