Motor paresis or poor respiratory effort may be present. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The clinical presentations of porphyric neuropathy range from mild focal neuropathy to more severe presentations with a Guillain-Barré-like picture [ 3, 6, 11 ]. Here, we report 3 cases of porphyria with differing neurological presentations. [karger.com]

In this issue of the SAMJ, an atypical neurological presentation of AIP in a young man is described. [16] Two points are of particular interest. [scielo.org.za]

If PBG excretion is normal when symptoms are present, the symptoms are very unlikely to be caused by porphyria. [clinchem.aaccjnls.org]

• Chronic Abdominal Pain

  In PV and HC, symptoms are usually neuropsychiatric and cutaneous, whereas in our patient the disease initially manifested as seizures, chronic abdominal pain, paraesthesia, hypertension, and no skin lesions. [elsevier.es]

• Palpitations

  Acute attacks, typically consist of severe abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, palpitations, sweating, confusion, and other neurological manifestations such as peripheral neuropathy, seizures, and paresis, tachycardia and hypertension. [1] [2] [5]. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Other symptoms may include: vomiting constipation pain in the back, arms and legs muscle weakness (due to effects on nerves supplying the muscles) urinary retention palpitations (due to a rapid heart rate and often accompanied by increased blood pressure [porphyriafoundation.org]

  […] vomiting Muscle pain, tingling, numbness, weakness or paralysis Red or brown urine Mental changes, such as anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, disorientation or paranoia Breathing problems Urination problems Rapid or irregular heartbeats you can feel (palpitations [mayoclinic.org]

  Common Symptoms and Signs of AHPs in Subjects With Clinically Active Disease Symptoms Signs Pain Systemic arterial hypertension (43%) Abdominal (74%) Chronic kidney disease (29%) Back (56%) Palpitations/tachycardia (19%) Chest (58%) Hyponatremia (20%) [aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com]

  93 Blisters 96 Burning/stinging pain 96 Fatigue 72 Fragile skin 86 Red/swollen skin 86 Dark/reddish urine 64 Dark/reddish urine 55 Sores/crusting 50 Muscular pain 63 Abnormal hair growth 33 Blisters 32 Muscular weakness 59 Increased pigmentation 30 Palpitations [tidsskriftet.no]

• Hypertrichosis

  […] erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) a form of erythropoietic porphyria, with cutaneous photosensitivity leading to mutilating lesions, hemolytic anemia, splenomegaly, excessive urinary excretion of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin, and invariably erythrodontia and hypertrichosis [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

  Over time, in CEP, HEP and PCT scarring, pigment changes, infection, and excessive hair growth (hypertrichosis) can occur. [aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com]

  HIV Estrogen therapy Sunlight exposure Pathophysiology Clinical findings Cutaneous manifestations Increased fragility of sun-exposed skin blistering and impaired healing ( blistering photosensitivity ) Healing results in scarring and milia formation Hypertrichosis [amboss.com]

  Skin thickening, focal hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation, and hypertrichosis of the face and extremities are characteristic. Secondary infection and bone resorption may lead to disfigurement of the face and hands. [bloodjournal.org]

  […] autonomic instability (hypertension, tachycardia, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation), dehydration and electrolyte imbalance (hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia), and dermatologic features (photosensitivity, skin fragility, hypertrichosis [ajp.psychiatryonline.org]

• Hirsutism

  Severe scarring is rare, as are pigment changes, friability, and hirsutism. Hemolysis and anemia are usually absent or mild. [bloodjournal.org]

• Stroke

  DWI MRI is also useful since it helps differentiate between oedema secondary to a cytotoxic process (as in stroke) and vasogenic oedema. 12,13 Diffusion-weighted MR images reveal increased signal intensity in cytotoxic oedema, whereas in vasogenic oedema [elsevier.es]

  Cerebral vasospasm and anterior circulation stroke secondary to an exacerbation of hereditary corproporphyria. Pract Neurol 2012;12(6):384-387. [ ] [ Links ] 10. Kumar B. [scielo.org.za]

  Less common clinical presentations of acute porphyria Although cardiovascular complications are rarely severe, acute attacks can be accompanied by severe adrenergic crises that lead to hypertensive emergencies causing encephalopathy, seizures, and stroke [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

• Hyperactivity

  Tachycardia and systemic arterial hypertension in acute attacks result from sympathetic hyperactivity. [aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com]

  somatization disorders, schizophrenia, insomnia, hyperactivity, conduct disorders, conversion disorder, and chronic fatigue syndrome During the late 1990s, the diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome (MCSS) was in vogue and was used to [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

The laboratory workup showed normal kidney function, GOT, 41 U/L; GPT, 43 U/L; alkaline phosphatase, 50 IU/L; GGT, 50 IU/L; LDH, 539 IU/L; sodium, 111 mEq/L; and plasma osmolarity, 231 mOsm/L. [revespcardiol.org]

Workup and Diagnosis Most routine investigations may offer information but are not helpful in making a diagnosis, including a diagnosis of porphyria (1). [ajp.psychiatryonline.org]

Urinary porphyrins should have been sent as part of the initial workup and interpreted along with other second-line tests. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

Details are available from the APF or investigators of the national Porphyria Consortium Clinical Testing and Workup: Screening tests to measure the levels of the porphyrin precursor porphobilinogen (PBG) in urine are essential to confirm a diagnosis [porphyriafoundation.org]

• Hyponatremia

  The hyponatremia and elevation of creatine kinase was gradually corrected [Table 1]. [mjdrdypu.org]

  Hyponatremia may reflect inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion. Gastrointestinal or renal sodium loss may contribute. [porphyriafoundation.org]

  The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment of hyponatremia. Her mother’s history led us to suspect porphyria, so we sent a urine sample from the ED for porphobilinogen (PBG) testing. [mdedge.com]

  It should be considered in a patient with recurrent abdominal symptoms, intractable hyponatremia, along with neurological manifestations. Early diagnosis can prevent recurrent episodes and can be potentially lifesaving. [tandfonline.com]

  The second and third cases also had hyponatremia and behavioral changes during the acute phase of the illness. [karger.com]

If the analysis of PBG in 24-h urine cannot be available or will result later, the clinician should start hematin treatment for AIP. AIP is a medical emergency and delay in treatment may contribute to serious or even fatal outcomes. [mjdrdypu.org]

Removal of precipitating factors, treatment of underlying infection, a carbohydrate diet and intravenous (i.v) heme remains mainstay of treatment of an acute attack. [joacp.org]

Supportive and Symptomatic Treatment: Harmful drugs should be stopped immediately and avoided during treatment. For example, metoclopramide should not be given. [porphyriafoundation.org]

[…] prompt treatment of complications. [journals.sagepub.com]

What is the prognosis? Several decades ago the mortality rate for AIP attacks was upwards of 25%. [first10em.com]

It is hoped that this will stimulate more interest in the subject, in order that the diagnosis may be made early and treatment instituted promptly with the expectation of improving the prognosis. [annals.org]

Prognosis Several decades ago the prognosis for acute porphyria with neurological complications was poor, with a reported mortality of 35%. The prognosis remains guarded for those that present with acute porphyria. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Prognosis In certain patients attacks recur, resulting in the need for repeated and more frequent injections of human hemin. Crippling attacks can possibly indicate the need for a hepatic transplant. [orpha.net]

The prognosis of AIP is usually good if the disorder is recognized before severe nerve damage has occurred and if treatment and preventive measures are begun. [porphyriafoundation.org]

Etiology Acute intermittent porphyria is caused by a deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D; the third enzyme in the heme biosynthesis pathway) that leads to an accumulation of the precursors of porphyrins in the liver (delta-aminolevulinic acid [orpha.net]

anemia, alcohol, or chronic heavy metal poisoning ) Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) Epidemiology Most common porphyria Peak incidence : 40–70 years Sex: Etiology Defective uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase ( UROD ) Type I: acquired insufficiency of [amboss.com]

Etiology Acute porphyrias are inherited conditions however environmental, e.g., drugs and physiological factors are crucial for clinical manifestation. Epidemiology The autosomal dominant acute porphyrias affect males and females equally. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

In the present case, the diagnosis was entertained because of the following: 1) the etiologically obscure neurosis or psychosis after an extensive workup, 2) unexplained peripheral neuropathy, 3) indeterminate neurologic spells, 4) hyponatremia of unknown [ajp.psychiatryonline.org]

Abdominal pain of unknown etiology, particularly after an expensive, time consuming, and unproductive search should be seriously considered for workup. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

Acute intermittent porphyria is the most common form of porphyria. (4-8) EPIDEMIOLOGY Acute intermittent porphyria has a prevalence of 1-2 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. [scielo.br]

anemia, alcohol, or chronic heavy metal poisoning ) Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) Epidemiology Most common porphyria Peak incidence : 40–70 years Sex: Etiology Defective uroporphyrinogen III decarboxylase ( UROD ) Type I: acquired insufficiency of [amboss.com]

Epidemiology The autosomal dominant acute porphyrias affect males and females equally. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Molecular epidemiology and diagnosis of PBG deaminase gene defects in acute intermittent porphyria. Am J Hum Genet 1997 ; 60 : 1373 -1383. Whatley SD, Puy H, Morgan RR, Robreau A-M, Roberts AG, Nordmann Y, et al. [clinchem.aaccjnls.org]

The epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with Acute Intermittent Porphyria. J Intern Med. 1996; 240:195-201 7) Andant C, Puy H, Faivre J, Deybach JC. Acute hepatic porphyrias and primary liver cancer [Letter]. [porphyriafoundation.org]

The prevalence of AIP has been estimated to be 5-10 cases per 100,000. [3] Pathophysiology Heme is a 64 kDa tetrameric protein present in hemoglobin, myoglobin, respiratory cytochromes and cytochrome P450 enzymes. [1] The heme biosynthetic pathway involves [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

The article provides a brief description of heme biosynthesis and the pathophysiology that underlie an acute attack. [cancertherapyadvisor.com]

Stress (e.g., surgery, infection) Pathophysiology : defective PBG-D accumulation of porphobilinogen ( PBG ) and δ-aminolevulinic acid ( ALA ) symptoms Clinical features Fever GI symptoms : severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting Neurological abnormalities [amboss.com]

These lesions show restricted diffusion in diffusion sequences, which is more typical of cytotoxic oedema than of vasogenic oedema. 14 The pathophysiology of PRES is not well known. [elsevier.es]

In AIP, pathophysiology of hyponatremia is only partly understood and can be associated with the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, also contributed to by gastrointestinal or renal sodium loss [ 13 Straume Z, Skuja V, Proskurina [tandfonline.com]

Hormone manipulation may be effective in preventing such attacks and some affected women have been treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRH or LHRH treatments such as Lupron) to suppress ovulation and prevent frequent, cyclic attacks [porphyriafoundation.org]

Porphyria prevents your body from creating enough enzymes to control the process, and porphyrin builds up. High levels of porphyrin can cause problems throughout your body, depending on where it builds up. [drugs.com]

"It also has a lasting effect of at least one month, which gives us an effective means of preventing acute attacks in seriously afflicted porphyria patients who have limited treatment options." [medicalxpress.com]

Duque-Serrano L...Molano-Eslava JC 2018 4 Rapid spectrophotometric quantification of urinary porphyrins and porphobilinogen as screening tool for attacks of acute porphyria. ( 29855177 ) Lang A...Stepp H 2018 5 An Audit of the Use of Gonadorelin Analogues to Prevent [malacards.org]