Ocular manifestations in patient with congenital erythropoietic porphyria

We present the case of a 52-year-old woman referred to our service because of extreme ocular surface dryness. The patient showed corneal, conjunctival, and eyelid manifestations of ocular congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP). We started treatment with autologous serum, topical steroids, and cyclosporine twice a day, topical retinoids, and intense corneal lubrication. The patient referred significant improvement of ocular bothering and less discomfort since treatment was initiated. We describe the management of the herewith presented case of ocular CEP.

Porfiria eritropoyética congénita: reporte de un caso y recomendaciones de manejo / Congenital erythropoietic porphyria: case report and management recommendations

La porfiria eritropoyética congènita es una porfiria cutánea no aguda, extremadamente poco frecuente, autosómica recesiva, producida por la deficiencia de la enzima uroporfirinógeno III sintetasa codificada en el gen UROS, en el cromosoma 10q26.2. Esto genera el depósito y la acumulación de porfirinas en las córneas, los huesos y los dientes. Se presenta desde los primeros meses de vida con intensa fotosensibilidad, que se manifiesta con fragilidad cutánea con formación de vesículas, bulas y costras. El curso grave lleva a la mutilación de tejidos acrales, compromiso ocular, anemia hemolítica e hiperesplenismo. El manejo es complejo, basado, sobre todo, en la fotoprotección. Un correcto diagnóstico y enfrentamiento puede mejorar notablemente la calidad y expectativas de vida de estos pacientes. Se presenta el caso de un lactante con porfiria eritropoyética congénita confirmada con el estudio genético.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria is an extremely rare, autosomal recessive, non-acute cutaneous porphyria, caused by uroporphyrinogen III synthase deficiency, codificated by UROS gene on the chromosome 10q26.2. Porphyrins deposit in cornea, bones and teeth. The first symptoms could be manifested in early childhood, with skin fragility, vesicles and bullae. Severe course produces acral tissues mutilation, eye involvement, hemolytic anemia and hypersplenism. The treatment is complex and it is based in the photoprotection. A correct diagnosis can significantly improve the quality and life expectancy of these patients. We present the case of a child with congenital erythropoietic porphyria confirmed by genetic analysis.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria with two mutations of the uroporphyrinogen III synthase gene (Cys73Arg, Thr228Met).

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) is an autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism that results from the markedly deficient activity of uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROS). We describe a 14-year-old girl with red urine since infancy, progressive blistering and scarring of the skin, and moderate hemolytic anemia. After years of skin damage, her face is mutilated; she has a bald patch on the scalp, hypertrichosis of the neck, areas of skin darkening, and limited joint movements of the hands. Total urine excretion and fecal total porphyrin were both markedly raised above normal levels. Sequencing of the UROS gene identified two mutations causing CEP (Cys73Arg, Thr228Met). The patient lesions are progressing. Bone marrow transplantation and/or gene therapy are proposed as the next steps in her treatment. In brief, we describe a CEP with confirmed two pathogenic mutations, severe phenotype and discuss the various treatment options available.

Ocular Manifestation of Compound Heterozygotic Mutation in Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria

PURPOSE: Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) is a rare disorder inherited as an autosomal recessive trait, which is characterized by almost complete reduction of uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROS) activity. The authors of the present study report a case of congenital erythropoietic porphyria with severe ocular involvement. CASE SUMMARY: A 27-year-old male patient diagnosed with congenital erythropoietic porphyria was referred to our clinic with a history of ocular pain, and foreign body sensation in both eyes. Visual acuity was light perception in both eyes. Severe scarring of eyelids, corneal leukoma with neovascularization, total limbal deficiency and scleromalacia were observed in both eyes. Identification of the uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROS) gene mutation revealed the patient had a compound heterozygote mutation at p.Q249X (c.745C>T) and p.L237P (c.710T>C) in exon 10. CONCLUSIONS: CEP is clinically characterized by severe cutaneous photosensitivity, hemolytic anemia and porphyriuria. In addition to these manifestations, the authors report a severe ocular involvement in a patient with CEP who had a compound heterozygote mutation at p.Q249X (c.745C>T) and p.L237P (c.710T>C) in exon 10.

Porfiria Congénita Eritropoyética en la Argentina: 4 niños y un caso de manifestación tardía / Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria in Argentina: 4 children and one late onset case

Las porfirias son la consecuencia de fallas en el metabolismo del hemo. La Porfiria Congénita Eritropoyética (PCE) (enfermedad de Günther) es una porfiria cutánea rara que se transmite en forma autosómica recesiva. Se produce debido a la presencia de mutaciones en el gen de la uroporfirinógeno III sintetasa (UROIII-S) que llevan a una marcada disminución de su actividad y a la producción y acumulación de elevadas cantidades de porfirinas de la serie isomérica I en plasma, tejidos y huesos, responsables de la severa sintomatología cutánea que generalmente presentan los pacientes con esta porfiria. Se han descripto sólo alrededor de 200 casos a nivel mundial. Su expresión clínica es muy heterogénea, encontrándose desde casos muy graves con severo compromiso cutáneo, transfusión-dependiente, hasta casos leves con escasa sintomatología cutánea. Se presentan 5 casos de pacientes argentinos con PCE, 4 infantiles y uno de manifestación tardía, diagnosticados en el Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias (CIPYP), que constituyen, hasta el momento, los únicos registrados en Argentina. Se encontraron elevadas cantidades de porfirinas en plasma, sangre, orina y materia fecal y un patrón de porfirinas con predominio de la serie I. La actividad de la UROIII-S estaba reducida en un 25-44% con respecto al valor normal. El diagnóstico certero y precoz de esta porfiria es fundamental para aplicar tempranamente el tratamiento adecuado en cada caso y brindarle al paciente una mejor calidad de vida.

Porphyrias are metabolism disorders caused by a partial deficiency in one of the heme biosynthetic pathway enzymes. Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria, also termed Günther disease, is extremely rare and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait that results from the markedly deficient activity of the fourth enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway, Uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROIII-S). This enzyme deficiency leads to an increased production and accumulation of the nonphysiological and phototoxic type I porphyrins responsible for the typical clinical manifestations. The disease severity is markedly heterogeneous, ranging from severe transfusion dependency throughout life to milder adult cases with only cutaneous photosensitivity. Only 200 cases have been described all over the world so far. In this work five Argentinean CEP patients are presented, 4 infantile and one late onset case, diagnosed in the CIPYP which are, as far as it is known, the only cases described in Argentina. Increased amounts of porphyrins were found in plasma, blood, urine and faeces, together with high amounts of the pathogenic type I isomer. Enzyme activity was reduced to 25-44% respect to normal values. Early diagnosis is important for correct treatment so as to prevent the characteristic mutilation of the disease and to improve patient´s life quality.