title: Hepatic porphyrias.
abstract: The porphyrias are metabolic disorders characterized by abnormal heme biosynthesis with excessive accumulation and excretion of porphyrias or porphyrin precursors. Defects in the enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway result in porphyria. Several of the disorders have been classified as hepatic because the major site of the biochemical defect has been localized to the liver. This article describes the enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway, the clinical features of the hepatic porphyrias and management of the disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Y V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Scarlett
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bloomer
mesh_terms: D006418:Heme / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000378:metabolism; D017094:Porphyrias, Hepatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D006418:Heme