Porphyrias Flashcards

1
Q

In what range of light do porphyrias tend to absorb light?

A

401-410 nm (making it the short end of the visible spectrum)

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2
Q

What is the difference in clinical findings of water vs lipid-soluble porphyrins?

A

Water-soluble: Causes blisters

Lipid-soluble: Acute burning and erythema

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3
Q

What is the most common porphyria?

A

Porphyria cutanea tarda

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4
Q

What causes porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

Decreased hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD) activity

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5
Q

What are the 3 types of porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

I: familial

II: Sporadic/acquired

III: Normal UROD gene, but multiple affected family members

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6
Q

What type of porphyria cutanea tarda is most common?

A

Type II sporadic/acquired

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7
Q

What are the skin findings of porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

Skin fragility, vesicles, bullae, erosions, milia, scarring, hyperpigmentation, hypertrichosis in photo distributed areas (especially dorsal hands/forearms

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8
Q

What should be screened for if a patient has porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

Hemochromatosis

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9
Q

What is the plasma peak fluorescence pattern for porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

620nm

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10
Q

What is the definition of an acute vs non-acute porphyria?

A

Acute suggests the presence or potential for potentially life-threatening acute neurologic attacks as part of the dz

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11
Q

Which of the porphyrias are acute?

A

Acute intermittent porphyria, Variegate porphyria, Hereditary coproporphyria, ALA-D deficiency porphyria

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12
Q

Which porphyrias are autosomal recessive?

A

Most of the porphyrias are autosomal dominant. Exceptions include one XLD dz (X-linked dominant protoporphyria), and 3 autosomal recessive ones

AR ones: ALA-D deficiency porphyria, Congenital erythropoietic porphyria, Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria, and rarely erythropoietic porphyria

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13
Q

What porphyrias are not associated with skin findings?

A

ALA dehydratase deficiency porphyria and acute intermittent pophyria

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14
Q

What porphyria results from a homozygous mutation in uropophyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD)?

A

Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria

  • This is opposed to porphyria cutanea tarda which is a diminished action of this same enzyme. This is why you see very exaggerated findings of PCT occurring early (starts in childhood, extreme photosensitivity, hypertrichosis, milia, vesicles/bullae/erosions/ulcers and the same plasma fluorescence emission peak (620nm)
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15
Q

What is the preferred lab testing to confirm the diagnosis for suspected porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

Serum/plasma porphyrins

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16
Q

What is the most common form of porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

Type 1 (absence of UROD mutation, 80% of cases)

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17
Q

What is the pathogenesis of skin lesions in porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

When the porphyrins accumulate that are seen in PCT, are exposed to a wavelength near 400nm the porphyrins enter an excited state and release photons that activate oxygen in the tissues to singlet oxygen which damages tissues leading to blister formation

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18
Q

What are some triggers for porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

Alcohol abuse, estrogen, iron and hemochromatosis, hepatitis C, and HIV

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19
Q

What is the histology of porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

cell-poor subepidermal bulla w/ “festooning” of dermal papillae, “caterpillar bodies” (pink BMZ material in blister cavity and epidermis)

  • Festooning is from papillary fibrosis which makes that area keep its shape when you loose the epidermis
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20
Q

What are the DIF findings in porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

IgG, IgM, fibrinogen, and C3 linearly along BMZ and in superficial dermal vessels (see thickened deposits around vessels)

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21
Q

What is the treatment for porphyria cutanea tarda?

A

Avoid precipitating factors (alcohol and estrogen), photoprotection/sun avoidance, treat the underlying conditions (if any), phlebotomy, low dose hydroxychloroquine, and deferasirox

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22
Q

What is the best initial diagnostic test for cutaneous blistering porphyrias?

A

Total plasma, serum, or spot urine porphyrins (screening)

23
Q

What gene is mutated in X-linked dominant protoporphyria?

A

ALAS2 gene that encodes 5-ALA synthase

24
Q

What is the presentation of X-linked dominant protoporphyria?

A

Erythropoietic protoporphyria

25
Q

What is the mutation leading to Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria?

A

Homozygous mutation of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD)

  • Remember that PCT is also UROD but not homozygous mutation
26
Q

Labratory findings in hepatoerythropoietic porphyria?

A

Increased zinc protoporphyrin in RBCs and plasma

fluorescence emission peak at 620 nm;

Increased uroporphyrin and increased coproporphyrin in urine and stool

27
Q

When does Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria start and what is the presentation?

A

Starts in childhood/infancy

Presents with scarring,sclerodermoid changes, photosensitivity to point of mutilation, hypertrichosis, milia, and vesicles/bullae/ erosions/ulcers

28
Q

What is the treatment for hepatoerythropoietic porphyria?

A

Photoprotection, sun and trauma avoidance

29
Q

What is the mutation in Variegate porphyria?

A

AD mutation in protoporphyrinogen oxidase

(located in mitochondria)

30
Q

Where is Variegate porphyria more common?

A

Chile and South Africa (found effects)

31
Q

What are the clinical findings of Variegate porphyria?

A

Similar to PCT but you can also have neurovisceral attacks

32
Q

What is the peak plasma fluorescence emission peak of Variegate porphyria?

A

626 nm

33
Q

What are the laboratory findings in Variegate porphyria?

A

Increased ALA/ increased PBG/increased coproporphyrin in urine; Increased protoporphyrin IX/increased coproporphyrin III : I ratio (protoporphyrin > coproporphyrin) in stool

34
Q

What is the treatment for variegate porphyria?

A

Avoid triggers (e.g., porphyrinogenic drugs, alcohol, and hormones)

  • For acute porphyric attacks, supportive care in ICU with sufficient caloric supplementation, IV hemin or heme arginate infusion, and supportive medical treatments (β-blockers, narcotics, phenothiazines, gabapentin, and laxatives); LHRH or GHRH agonists, prophylactic hemin and cimetidine may help prevent future attacks
35
Q

What is the mutation in Hereditary coproporphyria?

A

AD mutation in coproporphyrinogen III oxidase

(located in mitochondria)

36
Q

What are the sex differences in acute attack rates for hereditary coproporphyria?

A

More common in women than in men

37
Q

Clinical findings for hereditary coproporphyria?

A

Neurovisceral attacks + skin findings like PCT

38
Q

What are the laboratory findings in hereditary coproporphyria?

A

Increased ALA/increased PBG in urine; increased coproporphyrin III : I ratio (coproporphyrin III > protoporphyrin)

39
Q

Treatment of hereditary coproporphyria?

A

Same as variegate porphyria: ICU for acute neurovisceral attacks, avoid triggers, and can consider supportive medical treatments

40
Q

What is the mutation and effect of the mutation for Congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

A

AR deficiency of uroporphyrinogen III synthetase (UROS)

  • Leads to overproduction of uroporphyrin I and coporphyrin I in erythrocytes, plasma, urine, and feces

There is also a XLR mutation in GATA1 (transcription factor that regulates expression of UROS)

41
Q

What are the cutaneous findings in Congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

A

Photosensitivity with blistering, scarring, mutilating cutaneous deformity, sclerodermatous changes, hypertrichosis, dyschromia, and alopecia

42
Q

What feature of Congenital erythropoietic porphyria can be seen in infancy and why does it occur?

A

Red urine: caused by increased porphyrins in urine that are excited by 400-410nm light and emit red fluorescence

43
Q

What other features are seen in Congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

A

Splenomegaly, cholelithiasis, and hemolytic anemia Pathologic fractures, osteopenia, vertebral compression, and contractures of fingers.

  • Conjunctivitis and corneal scarring
  • Erythrodontia: teeth fluoresce red/purple under Wood’s lamp examination
44
Q

Laboratory findings in Congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

A

Increased urinary/erythrocyte uroporphyrin I; increased urinary and fecal coproporphyrinogen I and uroporphyrinogen I

45
Q

What is the treatment for Congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

A

Strict photoprotection, hypertransfusions, and iron chelation such as with deferoxamine; splenectomy may be considered, use of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol has been advocated; ocular lubricants, and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

46
Q

What is the prognosis of Congenital erythropoietic porphyria?

A

Poor for those with severe hematologic disease or if they present early (unless treated with hematopoietic cell transplant)

47
Q

What is the most common form of porphyria seen in children?

A

Erythropoietic protoporphyria

48
Q

What mutation is seen in Erythropoietic protoporphyria and what forms of inheritance does it follow?

A

AD/AR mutations in ferrochelatase

49
Q

When do children with Erythropoietic protoporphyria most commonly present?

A

Between 1-6 years of age

50
Q

What is the most common presentation of Erythropoietic protoporphyria?

A

Burning/stinging/or itching 5-30 minutes after exposure to sunlight

  • Causes pruritic erythematous/edematous plaques that last 1-2 days post-sunlight exposure

leads to hypo-hyperpigmentation, photonycholysis

Can also get linear pits on the face along with appular eruptions on the knuckles

51
Q

Systemic findings in Erythropoietic protoporphyria?

A

Hemolytic anemia, cholelithiasis protoporphyrin accumulation in the liver may lead to hepatotoxicity and progressive hepatic dysfunction

52
Q

What is the treatment for Erythropoietic protoporphyria?

A

strict photoprotection, oral β-carotene may be helpful in some patients, and hypertransfusion/plasmapheresis/exchange transfusion may be helpful in some patients; liver transplantation may be necessary with hepatic failure

53
Q

If screening for blistering porphyrias is positive, what tests are done next?

A

Plasma porphyrins, fractionate urine and/or plasma porphyrins, urinary ALA, PBG and porphyrins, erythrocyte total porphyrins, fecal total porphyrins (fractionate if these are elevated)

Depending on what is found, gene sequencing for suggested porphyria