Question 1

what is the prognosis of porphyria?

Accepted Answer

Very challenging: Porphyrias are life-long diseases with symptoms that come and go. Some forms of the disease cause more symptoms than others. Proper treatment and avoidance of triggers can help prolong the time between attacks. But attacks are quite painful and can be fatal. Life is a real struggle for someone with porphyria but it is possible to even do great things - some historical figures have suffered it.

Question 2

what are the symptoms of porphyria?

Accepted Answer

See below: Porphyrias involve three major symptoms:
•abdominal pain or cramping (only in some forms of the disease)

•light sensitivity causing rashes, blistering, and scarring of the skin (photodermatitis)

•problems with the nervous system and muscles (seizures, mental disturbances, nerve damage).

Question 3

whatprecipitates a porphyria attack?

Accepted Answer

Depends on the type: There are 8 different kinds of porphyria. Depending on the type of porphyria, an attack can be precipitated by sunlight exposure, alcohol, inadequate diet, carbohydrate restriction, certain drugs or chemicals, hormonal changes & stress. Often a combination of triggers can precipate an attack.  For more info, see the porphyria foundation's website: http://www.Porphyriafoundation.Com/about-porphyria.

Question 4

what is porphyria and how can it be treated?

Accepted Answer

Dermatology: Group of 8 different inherited disorders in which enzymes responsible for heme synthesis are deficient or absent. As a result,  porphyrins are produced, accumulates in tissues, excreted in urine, stool. S/s: nausea, vomiting/constipation, abd. Pain, muscle weakness, seizure, photosensitivity, scar, anemia, etc.
Rx: adequate nutrition, hydration, avoid sunlight/some drugs/alcohol. Follow mds advise.

Question 5

what is porphyria cutanea tarda?

Accepted Answer

Blistering disease: It is a disease that causes blistering seen more often in alcoholics because of enzyme defect causing increased porphyrins in blood. See dermatologist for full details and treatment.

Question 6

porphyria cutanea tarda symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Skin changes: A physician familiar with pct can make the call just on physical exam. The labs are confirmatory. A check for iron overload and hepatitis c are wise, but you'll manage the illness by becoming educated and doing a few simple things. Best wishes.

Question 7

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 8

what are the risks of acute porphyria?

Accepted Answer

Very serious: The pain is often agonizing, the mental confusion can land the person in the mental hospital permanently, the hyponatremia can be dangerous, and even the constipation sufficient to wreck the quality of life. Management of the illness is successful only if the patient can become educated and proactive in their own care.

Question 9

what is porphyria and what sets it off?

Accepted Answer

Porphyria: The porphyrias are hereditary conditions in which heme, the oxygen carrying molecule inside red cells, isn't made correctly. Several different enzyme mutations are responsible. A patient's symptoms depend on the enzyme affected. Some people are "set off" by exposure to light and others by certain diets or medications. You need to know the type of porphyria you have in order to know what to avoid.

Question 10

hows porphyria cutanea tarda diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

See below: The preferred screening test for pct is a measurement of porphyrins in plasma. This can differentiate pct from variegate porphyria. The patterns of porphyrins in urine (predominately uroporphyrin and 7-carboxylate porphyrin) and feces (predominately isocoproporphyrin) help to confirm the diagnosis. The presence of an inherited deficiency of urod can be demonstrated by measuring the enzyme in rbcs.

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