Major Features of the Two Most Common Porphyrias
Porphyria | Presenting Symptoms | Exacerbating Factors | Most Important Screening Tests* | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Acute intermittent porphyria | Neurovisceral (intermittent, acute) | Alcohol ingestion Medications (mostly cytochrome P-450 inducers) Fasting Infections Organic solvents Progesterone/progestogens Stress/intercurrent illness | Urinary PBG | Glucose Heme |
Porphyria cutanea tarda | Blistering skin lesions (chronic) | Alcohol ingestion Estrogens Halogenated hydrocarbons Hepatitis C virus Iron Smoking | Urinary or plasma porphyrins | Direct-acting antivirals to cure hepatitis C virus infection Phlebotomy |
* In symptomatic phase. | ||||
PBG = porphobilinogen. | ||||
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