Congenital erythropoietic porphyria presenting with recurrent epistaxis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), also known as pink tooth or Gunther disease, is a rare hereditary disorder caused by an enzyme mutation in the heme biosynthesis pathway, which leads to the accumulation of immature and non-physiological protoporphyrin rings in various tissues. CEP is characterized by sun-exposed bullous skin lesions, hemolytic anemia, red/brown urine, and teeth staining. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a unique case of a 10-year-old Asian boy with CEP who presented with recurrent epistaxis, an unusual presentation for this condition. Based on clinical presentation and laboratory findings, including elevated urine uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin I and III levels, microcytic anemia, a higher red cell distribution width (RDW), and a lower platelet count, a thorough assessment and detailed workup resulted in a diagnosis of CEP. The patient underwent a successful splenectomy and recovered without any complications. CONCLUSION: This case report aims to raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the uncommon and atypical presentation of CEP and its management options.

Bullous lesions following phototherapy in a newborn.

A male infant presented with progressive jaundice immediately after birth. Fecal acholia and choluria associated with extensive bullous skin lesions in his trunk, abdomen, and upper and lower limbs developed during phototherapy. Several diagnostic hypotheses were presented, including neonatal porphyria, hemochromatosis, Alagille syndrome, and neonatal lupus. A 24-hour urine sample for the dosage of urinary porphyrins was collected, showing high results (1823.6µg in 100mL). At 50 days of life, fluorescence spectroscopy using a Wood's lamp revealed simultaneous bright red fluorescence of urine-stained diapers and sample blood. A definitive diagnosis of congenital erythropoietic porphyria was made following identification of a mutation of the uroporphyrinogen synthetases III gene on genetic testing. The patient was subsequently maintained in a low light environment since then, resulting in improvement of the lesions. Congenital erythropoietic porphyria is a disease of the group of porphyrias that presents shortly after birth with blistering occurring in regions exposed to the sun or other ultraviolet light. Atrophic scars, mutilated fingers, and bright red fluorescence of the urine and teeth may also be observed. There is no specific treatment, and prophylaxis comprising a total avoidance of sunlight is generally recommended. A high degree of suspicion is required for diagnosis. An early diagnosis can lead to less damage. Here, we present the case of a newborn with congenital erythropoietic porphyria diagnosed after presenting with bullous lesions secondary to phototherapy.

Very Early Diagnosis and Management of Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), a rare form of porphyria, is caused by a defect in the heme biosynthesis pathway of the enzyme uroporphyrinogen III synthase (UROS). Uroporphyrinogen III synthase deficiency leads to an accumulation of nonphysiological porphyrins in bone marrow, red blood cells, skin, bones, teeth, and spleen. Consequently, the exposure to sunlight causes severe photosensitivity, long-term intravascular hemolysis, and eventually, irreversible mutilating deformities. Several supportive therapies such as strict sun avoidance, physical sunblocks, red blood cells transfusions, hydroxyurea, and splenectomy are commonly used in the management of CEP. Currently, the only available curative treatment of CEP is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In this article, we present a young girl in which precocious genetic testing enabled early diagnosis and allowed curative treatment with HSCT for CEP at the age of 3 months of age, that is, the youngest reported case thus far.

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.

Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria: A Rare Case of Photosensitivity with Hemolytic Anaemia and Mental Retardation.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria, also called Gunther's disease, is a very rare genetic autosomal recessive diseaseaffecting less than 1 per 1,000,000 children. Pathogenesis involves genetic mutation encoding uroporphyrinogen-III cosynthase which leads to accumulation of porphyrin in many tissues, leading to extreme skin photosensitivity, red cell lysis, splenomegaly and reduced life expectancy. Herein, we report a 12-year mentally challenged girl with multiple blisters and scars on sun exposed sites since birth. She had hepatomegaly, erythrodontia, severe anaemia with haemolytic blood picture and mildly elevated liver enzymes. Skin biopsy showed deposition of amorphous eosinophilic porphyrins in the dermis, thus confirming a diagnosis of congenital erythropoietic porphyria.

[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.

Acquired erythropoietic uroporphyria secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome with chromosome 3 alterations: a case report.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria is a rare autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficiency of uroporphyrinogen III synthase, owing to mutations in UROS in chromosome 10. Occasionally, patients show a mild, late-onset disease, without germline UROS mutations, associated with haematological malignancies. We report a 65-year-old patient with photosensitivity, overexcretion of porphyrins and thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow analysis gave a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with the presence of a derivative chromosome 3, possibly due to an inversion including 3q21 and 3q26 break points. After allogeneic stem-cell transplantation, complete remission of MDS and uroporphyria was achieved. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of acquired erythropoietic uroporphyria associated with MDS, with chromosome 3 alterations.

Neonatal hemolytic anemia does not always indicate thalassemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Congenital erythropoietic porphyria is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that affects heme-porphyrin synthesis. This disorder is due to the genetic defect of uroporphyrinogen III cosynthase. This defect results in the accumulation of high amounts of uroporphyrin I in all tissues, leading to clinical manifestations ranging from mild to severe chronic damage of the skin, cartilage and bone. Hypertrichosis, erythrodontia and reddish-colored urine are often present, as well as hemolytic anemia accompanied by hepatosplenomegaly. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we present a case of a 5-year-old male child of Middle Eastern origin who had been diagnosed as having alpha thalassemia and was undergoing chronic blood transfusions. He later presented with hypopigmented skin lesions and atrophy post-photosensitivity, persistent red-colored urine and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory investigations showed a high level of porphyrin metabolites in his plasma and erythrocytes. As a result, he was diagnosed as having Congenital erythropoietic porphyria. CONCLUSION: Here, we diagnose a case of congenital erythropoietic porphyria which was initially missed, although the clinical features were clear (red-colored urine, hepatosplenomegaly and hemolytic anemia were present since birth, and skin manifestations appeared at the age of 22 months after being exposed to sunlight). After a DNA test was performed, the patient was initially diagnosed as having alpha thalassemia. We identified two causes of hemolytic anemia (congenital erythropoietic porphyria and alpha thalassemia) in this patient. The diagnosis of congenital erythropoietic porphyria was missed up until the child turned 5 years old. To our knowledge, this is the first case of hemolytic anemia to be reported with a diagnosis of both congenital erythropoietic porphyria and alpha thalassemia.

Congenital erythropoietic porphyria (Gunther disease) - long-term follow up of a case and review.

Patients with the rare genodermatosis congenitalerythropoietic porphyria (CEP, Gunther disease)develop erosions and scarring on sun-exposedsites caused by phototoxin mediated damage.Compromised skin barrier function places patientsat higher risk of infection and long term sequelaeinclude scarring. We report a long term follow up ofa 60 year old patient born with CEP and provide anextensive literature review of CEP including recentupdates on potential management options. Multiplepatient interviews and collection of biochemistry datawere conducted for the case discussion. All Australianpathology laboratories in each state performingporphyria testing were surveyed in mid 2015 to verifyexistence of other cases of CEP in Australia with onlyone case of true congenital porphyria identifiedand one adult onset case. Congenital erythropoieticporphyria is a rare condition with no cure currentlyavailable. It is important to diagnose patients earlyto prevent and minimize complications such asscarring and secondary infection, provide longterm skin checks, and advise patients about lifestylemodification.

Acute hepatic and erythropoietic porphyrias: from ALA synthases 1 and 2 to new molecular bases and treatments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Many studies over the past decade have together identified new genes including modifier genes and new regulation and pathophysiological mechanisms in inherited inborn diseases of the heme biosynthetic pathway. A new porphyria has been characterized: X-linked protoporphyria and the perspective to have innovative treatment at very short-term became a reality. We will summarize how recent data on both ALAS1 and ALAS2 have informed our understanding of disease pathogenesis with an emphasis on how this information may contribute to new therapeutic strategies. RECENT FINDINGS: The development of clinical and biological porphyria networks improved the long-term follow up of cohorts. The ageing of patients have allowed for the identification of novel recurrently mutated genes, and highlighted long-term complications in acute hepatic porphyrias. The treatment of hepatic porphyrias by an RNAi-targeting hepatic ALAS1 is actually tested and may lead to improve the management of acute attacks.In erythropoietic porphyrias, the key role of ALAS2 as a gate keeper of the heme and subsequently hemoglobin synthesis has been demonstrated. Its implication as a modifier gene in over erythroid disorders has also been documented. SUMMARY: The knowledge of both the genetic abnormalities and the regulation of heme biosynthesis has increased over the last 5 years and open new avenues in the management of erythropoietic and acute hepatic porphyrias.

Photodermatoses: Kids are not just little people.

Photodermatoses are a group of skin disorders caused by abnormal reaction to ultraviolet radiation. Photodermatoses are divided into four groups: (1) immunologically mediated photodermatoses; (2) chemical- and drug-induced photodermatoses; (3) photoaggravated dermatoses; and (4) hereditary photodermatoses. This contribution discusses differences in the approach and diagnosis of pediatric and adult patients with suspected photodermatoses, focusing on immunologically mediated photodermatoses and chemical- and drug-induced photodermatoses.