[The cutaneous porphyrias]. / Porphyries cutanées.

The porphyrias are a group of metabolic disorders resulting from an innate abnormality in haem biosynthesis, and the clinical settings of which vary according to the genetic enzyme abnormality in question. These are genetic disorders with autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance of varying penetrance, and whose clinical expression differs according to the preferential location of haem precursors. Different classifications have been proposed according to genetic inheritance, the enzyme anomaly at issue, and clinical expression. The clinical classification distinguishes between acute porphyria (acute intermittent porphyria, porphyria variegata, hereditary coproporphyria), bullous cutaneous porphyrias (porphyria cutanea tarda, porphyria variegata and hereditary coproporphyria), painful photosensitive acute cutaneous porphyrias (erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked dominant protoporphyria), and rare recessive porphyrias (congenital erythropoietic porphyria, Doss porphyria, hepatoerythropoietic porphyria and harderoporphyria). Treatment depends on the clinical expression of the disorder.

[Neurocutaneous porphyrias]. / Neurokutane Porphyrien.

Porphyrias comprise a heterogeneous group of predominantly genetically determined metabolic diseases which are due to a dysfunction in heme biosynthesis. Variegate porphyria and hereditary coproporphyria are referred to as neurocutaneous porphyrias because affected patients can develop both cutaneous symptoms on light-exposed body sites and potentially life-threatening acute neurovisceral symptoms, thereby mimicking several other diseases. In this overview, we provide an update on pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and therapy of these two types of porphyria.

Liver failure after Hydroxycut™ use in a patient with undiagnosed hereditary coproporphyria.

We report the case of a young male presenting with cholestatic liver failure. After an extensive workup, the etiology of the liver failure was determined to be due to hereditary coprophorphyria (HCP). The inciting event was the use of Hydroxycut™, an over-the-counter supplement to promote weight loss that has been reported to cause oxidative liver injury in vulnerable populations. Although HCP is a rare cause of cholestatic liver failure, it is treatable if diagnosed correctly and in a timely manner. In this clinical vignette, we discuss a case that highlights the genetic susceptibility to disease that can be unmasked by environmental exposures. We also review the relevant literature on Hydroxycut™ and how it can affect hepatic function.

Acute porphyrias in the USA: features of 108 subjects from porphyrias consortium.

BACKGROUND: Recent descriptions of the clinical and laboratory features of subjects with acute porphyrias in the US are lacking. Our aim was to describe clinical, biochemical, and genetic features of 108 subjects. METHODS: Between September 2010 and December 2012, 108 subjects with acute porphyrias (90 acute intermittent porphyrias, 9 hereditary coproporphyrias, 9 variegate porphyrias) were enrolled into an observational study. Genetic testing was performed at a central genetic testing laboratory and clinical information entered into a central database. Selected features were compared with data for adults in the US. RESULTS: Most subjects (88/108, 81%) were female, with self-reported onset of symptoms in the second through fourth decades of life. The most common symptom was abdominal pain. Appendectomies and cholecystectomies were common before a diagnosis of porphyria. The diagnosis was delayed by a mean of 15 years. Anxiety and depression were common, and 18% complained of chronic symptoms, especially neuropathic and other pains. The incidences of systemic arterial hypertension, chronic kidney disease, seizure disorders, and psychiatric conditions were markedly increased. Mutations of the known causative genes were found in 102/105 of those tested, with novel mutations being found in 37, including in 7/8 subjects with hereditary coproporphyria. Therapy with intravenous hematin was the most effective therapy both for treatment of acute attacks and for prevention of recurrent attacks. CONCLUSIONS: Acute porphyrias often remain undiagnosed for more than a decade after first symptoms develop. Intravenous hematin is the treatment of choice, both for treatment of acute attacks and for prevention of recurrent attacks.

A challenging diagnosis for potential fatal diseases: recommendations for diagnosing acute porphyrias.

Acute porphyrias are a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders resulting from a variable catalytic defect of four enzymes out of the eight involved in the haem biosynthesis pathway; they are rare and mostly inherited diseases, but in some circumstances, the metabolic disturbance may be acquired. Many different environmental factors or pathological conditions (such as drugs, calorie restriction, hormones, infections, or alcohol abuse) often play a key role in triggering the clinical exacerbation (acute porphyric attack) of these diseases that may often mimic many other more common acute medical and neuropsychiatric conditions and whose delayed diagnosis and treatment may be fatal. In order to obtain an accurate diagnosis of acute porphyria, the knowledge and the use of appropriate diagnostic tools are mandatory, even in order to provide as soon as possible the more effective treatment and to prevent the use of potentially unsafe drugs, which can severely precipitate these diseases, especially in the presence of life-threatening symptoms. In this paper, we provide some recommendations for the diagnostic steps of acute porphyrias by reviewing literature and referring to clinical experience of the board members of the Gruppo Italiano Porfiria (GrIP).

Kidney transplantation in hereditary coproporphyria using tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The porphyrias are a group of disorders of the heme biosynthesis pathway that may present with acute life-threatening attacks, commonly exacerbated by a wide variety of medications. Many newer immunosuppressive medications, which are in use following kidney transplantation, have not been fully explored in acute porphyrias. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old woman received a kidney from a deceased donor, after being on hemodialysis for 4 years. Hereditary coproporphyria was diagnosed at age 19 years. We administered tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and steroid immunosuppression. In the immediate post-transplant periods she displayed abdominal pain and transient uroporphyrin elevation in parallel with slightly elevated (15 ng/mL) tacrolimus concentrations. As the target tacrolimus level was achieved, these findings disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Tacrolimus, mycophenolate- mofetil, and steroid therapy for hereditery coproporphyri was safe, in the long term.

[Hereditary coproporphyria from clinician's point of view--a case report].

INTRODUCTION: Acute hepatic porphyrias can mimic a range of unrelated diseases and conditions that may occur independently of porphyria and trigger their initial manifestations and further attacks. CASE REPORT: A 46-year-old female patient was subjected to cholecystectomy for biliary colic. Histopathological analysis revealed acute purulent exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis. On the 8th day post surgery, the patient was rehospitalized for nausea, abdominal pain, weakness and faintness, poor general condition, hypertension, tachycardia, apathy and profuse sweating. Laboratory findings revealed hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Exploratory laparotomy did not detect a pathomorphological substrate. The patient was transferred to surgery department of the tertiary care institution. Due to metabolic imbalance, she was transferred to the Department of Endocrinology with signs of paleness, profuse sweating, tachycardia, and tachydyspnoea. The cardiologist performed echocardiography. The patient was diagnosed to have acute left ventricular failure and sub-acute myocardial infarction and transferred to the Department of Cardiology. Coronarography findings were normal. Cramps and pain in the legs with sensory loss, general weakness, apathy and mental confusion suggested acute hepatic porphyria. Thus, hereditary coproporphyria was diagnosed in the second month of illness. The treatment was continued at the Department of Gastroenterology. Clinical manifestations included polyneuropathy, flaccid paraparesis and acute brain syndrome, precordial oppressions and tachycardia. Haem arginate and hypertonic glucose were applied. The condition of the patient gradually improved. CONCLUSION: Porphyrias should always be taken into consideration in doubtful, frequently dramatic clinical pictures characterized by neurovisceral symptoms and precipitating factors of acute porphyria attacks must never be neglected.

Identification of an AluY-mediated deletion of exon 5 in the CPOX gene by MLPA analysis in patients with hereditary coproporphyria.

Hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) is an autosomal dominantly inherited hepatic porphyria, caused by a mutation in the coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPOX) gene. The genetic defect leads to a partial defect of CPOX, the sixth enzyme involved in haem biosynthesis. Affected individuals can develop acute life-threatening attacks of neurovisceral symptoms and/or more rarely cutaneous symptoms such as skin fragility and blistering. The identification of the genetic defect in HCP families is of crucial importance to detect the carrier status which allows counselling to prevent possible triggering factors, e.g. certain drugs, alcohol, or fasting. In a total of nine Swedish HCP families, routine gene sequence analysis had identified a causative mutation in only five. In the present study, using an in-house developed synthetic probe set for multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis, we detected a deletion of the fifth exon in the CPOX gene in the remaining four families. The deletion is 3381 bp in size and has originated by an Alu-mediated mechanism. This finding emphasizes the usefulness of MLPA analysis as a complement to gene sequencing for comprehensive genetic diagnostics in HCP patients.

Haem arginate as effective maintenance therapy for hereditary coproporphyria.

A 35-year-old woman presented with skin fragility and photosensitivity with blisters affecting her face and hands. Other symptoms included intermittent headache, fatigue, abdominal pain and nausea. Porphyrin studies were markedly raised, with features consistent with hereditary coproporphyria (HCP). Despite strict precautions, symptoms remained significantly problematic. Regular haem arginate infusions of 3 mg/kg per day over 4 days on a monthly basis were commenced and resulted in significant improvement of the patient's symptoms and a reduction in urinary porphobilinogen. Although haem arginate infusion is known as a treatment for severe acute attacks of HCP, the effectiveness of regular infusions as maintenance therapy has not been established. This is the first report of effective symptom control correlating with normalization of biochemical markers in a patient receiving regular haem arginate infusions for the treatment of HCP.

Harderoporphyria due to homozygosity for coproporphyrinogen oxidase missense mutation H327R.

Hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) is an autosomal dominant acute hepatic porphyria due to the half-normal activity of the heme biosynthetic enzyme, coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPOX). The enzyme catalyzes the step-wise oxidative decarboxylation of the heme precursor, coproporphyrinogen III, to protoporphyrinogen IX via a tricarboxylic intermediate, harderoporphyrinogen. In autosomal dominant HCP, the deficient enzymatic activity results primarily in the accumulation of coproporphyrin III. To date, only a few homozygous HCP patients have been described, most having Harderoporphyria, a rare variant due to specific CPOX mutations that alter enzyme residues D400-K404, most patients described to date having at least one K404E allele. Here, we describe a Turkish male infant, the product of a consanguineous union, who presented with the Harderoporphyria phenotype including neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, hemolytic anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, and skin lesions when exposed to UV light. He was homoallelic for the CPOX missense mutation, c.980A>G (p.H327R), and had massively increased urinary uroporphyrins I and III (9,250 and 2,910 µM, respectively) and coproporphyrins I and III (895 and 19,400 µM, respectively). The patient expired at 5 months of age from an apparent acute neurologic porphyric attack. Structural studies predicted that p.H327R interacts with residue W399 in the CPOX active site, thereby accounting for the Harderoporphyria phenotype.

Porfirias poco frecuentes: Casos detectados en la población argentina / Non frequent porphyrias in the argentinean population

Las porfirias son consecuencia de fallas en el metabolismo del hemo. Se clasifican según el tipo de sintomatología clínica prevalente o el órgano donde se expresa preferencialmente la falla metabólica. En general la deficiencia enzimática está asociada a mutaciones en los genes que codifican para cada una de las enzimas. Están descritos 7 tipos de porfiria diferentes. Se transmiten por carácter autosómico dominante a excepción de la PCE, la PHE y la NPA que son recesivas. Sin embargo, están reportadas variantes homocigotas para el resto de las porfirias de pronóstico y evolución mucho más grave que la forma heterocigota. La descripción de estos casos poco frecuentes, sus tratamientos y evolución, facilitarían tanto el diagnóstico diferencial de la porfiria como el conocimiento de las posibilidades terapéuticas en cada caso. Asimismo para las porfirias heterocigotas con manifestación infantil, su identificación temprana y tratamiento aseguraría una mejor evolución minimizando los riesgos asociados. Se han diagnosticado 5 casos de porfirias agudas en niñas: 2 de PAI, 2 de PV y 1 de CPH. Entre las porfirias cutáneas se presentan 25 casos de PCT infantil, el primer caso de PHE en Argentina, 4 casos de PCE infantil y 1 en un adulto y 2 casos de PPE con compromiso hepatobiliar.

The Porphyrias are a group of diseases resulting from partial deficiencies in one of the heme biosynthetic enzymes. These disorders can be classified on the basis of their clinical manifestations or according the organ where the metabolic deficiency is mainly expressed. In general this enzyme deficiency is associated with mutations in the genes which codify each enzyme. There are 7 types of Porphyrias. They are autosomal dominant disorders with the exception of PCE, PHE and NPA which are recessive. However, some rare and severe cases with recessive inheritance have also been reported. The description of these infrequent cases and their treatments and evolution would make easier the differential diagnosis of Porphyrias as well as the therapeutic possibilities to be applied in each case. Moreover, it is very important the early identification and treatment of infantile heterozygous porphyrias to avoid the risks of associatedd complications. In the CIPYP we have diagnosed 5 cases of infantil Acute Porphyrias: 2 PAI, 2 PV and 1 CPH. In the group of Cutaneous Porphyrias we present 25 cases of infantil PCT, the first case of PHE in Argentina, 4 cases of infantil PCE and 1 adult PCE and 2 cases of PPE with hepatic failure.

Delayed diagnosis of porphyria based on manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis.

In this case report, a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis is presented, who was diagnosed with hereditary coproporphyria after 5 years of follow-up. Diagnostic difficulties and possible role of genetic background in the autoimmune response in patients with porphyria are briefly discussed.

Modern diagnosis and management of the porphyrias.

Recent advances in the molecular understanding of the porphyrias now offer specific diagnosis and precise definition of the types of genetic mutations involved in the disease. Molecular diagnostic testing is powerful and very useful in kindred evaluation and genetic counselling when a disease-responsible mutation has been identified in the family. It is also the only way to properly screen asymptomatic gene carriers, facilitating correct treatment and appropriate genetic counselling of family members at risk. However, it should be noted that DNA-based testing is for the diagnosis of the gene carrier status, but not for the diagnosis of clinical syndrome or severity of the disease, e.g. an acute attack. For the diagnosis of clinically expressed porphyrias, a logical stepwise approach including the analysis of porphyrins and their precursors should not be underestimated, as it is still very useful, and is often the best from the cost-effective point of view.

Dual gene defects involving delta-aminolaevulinate dehydratase and coproporphyrinogen oxidase in a porphyria patient.

Summary A Caucasian male had symptoms of acute porphyria, with increases in urinary delta-aminolaevulinic acid (ALA), porphobilinogen (PBG) and coproporphyrin that were consistent with hereditary coproporphyria (HCP). However, a greater than expected increase in ALA, compared with PBG, and a substantial increase in erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin, suggested additional ALA dehydratase (ALAD) deficiency. Nucleotide sequence analysis of coproporphyrinogen oxidase (CPO) cDNA of the patient, but not of the parents, revealed a novel nucleotide transition G835-->C, resulting in an amino acid change, G279R. The mutant CPO protein expressed in Escherichia coli was unstable, and produced about 5% of activity compared with the wild-type CPO. Erythrocyte ALAD activity was 32% of normal in the proband. Nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned ALAD cDNAs from the patient revealed a C36-->G base transition (F12L amino acid change). The F12L ALAD mutation, which was found in the mother and a brother, was previously described, and is known to lack any enzyme activity. This patient thus represents the first case of porphyria where both CPO and ALAD deficiencies were demonstrated at the molecular level.

Neurovisceral porphyrias: what a hematologist needs to know.

The acute or inducible hepatic porphyrias comprise four inherited disorders of heme biosynthesis. They usually remain asymptomatic for most of the lifespan of individuals who inherit the specific enzyme deficiencies but may cause life-threatening attacks of neurovisceral symptoms. Failure to consider the diagnosis frequently delays effective treatment, and inappropriate diagnostic tests and/or mistaken interpretation of results may lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. The four disorders are ALA dehydratase deficiency porphyria, acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary coproporphyria, and variegate porphyria. Other conditions that clinically and biochemically may mimic acute porphyria include lead poisoning and hereditary tyrosinemia type I. The diagnosis of one of these acute porphyric syndromes should be considered in many patients with otherwise unexplained abdominal pain, severe constipation, systemic arterial hypertension, or other characteristic symptoms. Critical to the rapid diagnosis of the three most common of these disorders is demonstration of markedly increased urinary porphobilinogen (PBG) in a single-void urine specimen. The treatment of choice for all but mild attacks of the acute porphyrias is intravenous hemin therapy, which should be started as soon as possible. Intravenous glucose alone is recommended only for mild attacks (no weakness or hyponatremia) or until hemin is available.

Clinical indications for the investigation of porphyria: case examples and evolving laboratory approaches to its diagnosis in New Zealand.

Patients with porphyria present in a diverse and unusual variety of ways and most clinicians will see only a few cases, if any, during their professional lives. Porphyria may present (1) with acute symptoms, which may be abdominal pain, neurological or psychiatric; (2) with skin rash or photosensitivity; or (3) with a putative family history. Screening for latent porphyria has been greatly facilitated by fluorescence emission scanning of plasma and by mutational analysis. Our reference laboratory has recently diagnosed several cases of the less common types of porphyria, which we postulate is due to the availability of these methods and to the changing population of New Zealand. Accurate screening and diagnosis of porphyria is important, as an acute porphyric attack is life-threatening and preventable. Retrospective diagnosis may be difficult.