Cutaneous (skin) Porphyrias - Medtick
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Cutaneous (skin) Porphyrias

What is it?

Haem is used in haemoglobin which helps to carry oxygen in our blood to different parts of our body.

  • In order to produce Haem it takes several stages and when one has a disorder of such pathways it is known as a rare condition called porphyria.

There are several different types of this condition depending on which pathway is affected.

They are described under two categories:

1. Acute Porphyrias

Types of porphyria:

  • Acute intermittent Porphyria
  • Variegate Porphyria
  • Hereditary Corophorpyria
  • ALA-dehydratase Deficiency Porphyria

2. Cutaneous (skin) Porphyrias

Types of porphyria:

Cause

Illicit drugs

Medication

  • Barbiturates
  • Sleeping medication
  • Hormonal:
    • Contraceptive tablets
    • Oestrogen supplements
    • HRT

Symptoms

  • Swelling of the skin?
  • Pain?
  • Increased hair growth?
  • Darkening and thickening of the skin?
  • Liver disease (yellow eyes and skin, dark urine, pale faeces, pain in liver area)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait phone, for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Coma
  • Paralysis
  • Respiratory failure (breathing difficulties)
  • Liver disease

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Cutaneous (skin) Porphyrias in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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