Question 1

what cause a porphyria attack?

Accepted Answer

Porphyria results…: From lack of an enzyme in the path for making heme, the oxygen-carrying part of blood. There are many triggers for attacks:alcohol; smoking; drugs (barbiturates, sulfa antibiotics) phenytoin; progesterone; sun exposure; increased iron intake; chronic viral illness (hcv, hiv); stress (illness, emotional/ psycho-logical, physical); dieting/fasting. http://www.porphyriafoundation.com/ for more info.

Question 2

what is porphyria? what are the specific problems caused by porphyria?

Accepted Answer

A rare disease: Porphyria is a very rare disease due to a problem is the production of porphoryin which become part of the hem molecule that eventually gets placedinto the hemoglobin to make red blood cells. The disease can cause skin problem abdominalmpain and other problems.

Question 3

can porphyria cause high bilirubin?

Accepted Answer

Might occur: Some variants of porphyria can affect the liver and cause abnormal liver testing.  You can get answers by analyzing your urinary and serum porphyrin levels, and this could allow interventional approaches to bring under full control.

Question 4

what can cause porphyria victims to crave blood?

Accepted Answer

Old legend: There's an idea, probably ill-founded, that congenital erythropoietic porphyria, which produces hairiness, a mutilated face, red teeth, and pain on going into sunlight is the origin of vampire / werewolf tales. The tale that these people crave blood (this isn't a classic feature) may have been added as the story grew, though heme is one factor that suppresses some forms of the illness.

Question 5

can porphyria cause high urinary copper?

Accepted Answer

No, it does not: However, there are several copper metabolism issues that can occur, including Wilson's disease, and a serum ceruloplasmin level can objectify some of the concerns.

Question 6

can acute porphyria cause problems with fine motor skills?

Accepted Answer

Acute porphyria: Muscle weakness can be a symptom can comes with exacerbation of acute intermittent porphyria. Fine motor skill difficulties alone is unlikely to be the result of acute porphyria. See your PCP for any concerns about fine motor skills. 
Here is info on acute intermittent porphyria. http://www.porphyriafoundation.com/about-porphyria/types-of-porphyria/AIP

Question 7

does porphyria cause joint pain?

Accepted Answer

Not typically: There are small vessel obstruction so i would expect the pain to be areas and not joints.

Question 8

in regards to acute intermittent porphyria, what causes abdominal pain?

Accepted Answer

Great question: AIP causes an axonal neuropathy which starts in proximal arms but spreads throughout limbs, and likely throughout the body.  During the cramping attacks, there is an increase in delta-aminolevulinic acid and porphobiilnogen which likely stimulates abnormal nerve activity within the gut.

Question 9

what's  porphyria?

Accepted Answer

Disease family: Maybe 1 person in 1000 is born with a strong tendency to porphyria cutanea tarda and some forms of hepatitis can bring it out even in a normal person; it blisters and scars sun-exposed skin. Other porphyrias masquerade as abdominal pain, mental illness, constipation, low sodium, and chronic nerve pain -- and screening tests are often done wrong. Good luck.

Question 10

how does one get porphyria?

Accepted Answer

Inherited: Typically inherited problem in the breakdown of red blood cells, in particular heme. The abdominal pain and crises can be set off by medications, alcohol, or low calorie diets. Medications that cause include but are not limited to barbiturates, anticonvulsants, estrogens, oral contraceptives, or even supplements (chromium for example).

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Causes of porphyria

A member asked:

What cause a porphyria attack?

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What is porphyria? what are the specific problems caused by porphyria?

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Can porphyria cause high bilirubin?

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What can cause porphyria victims to crave blood?

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Can porphyria cause high urinary copper?

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Can acute porphyria cause problems with fine motor skills?

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Does porphyria cause joint pain?

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In regards to acute intermittent porphyria, what causes abdominal pain?

A member asked:

What's porphyria?

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How does one get porphyria?

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