Erythropoietic protoporphyria patients in Slovenia.
BACKGROUND
There are only scarce epidemiological data on the prevalence of erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) in a given population. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of EPP within the Slovenian population.


METHODS
The patients were selected by routine examination of photosensitive patients and by studying hospital records. A quantitative spectrophotometric method was used to assess protoporphyrin, with values larger than 530 nm/l considered elevated.


RESULTS
32 EPP patients were detected, which allows us to estimate the prevalence of EPP in Slovenia at 1.75 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Marko
P B
PB
Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University Medical Centre, Maribor, Ljubljanska 5, SI- 2000 Maribor, Slovenia. pij.marko@sb-mb.si
Miljković
J
J
Gorenjak
M
M
Povalej
P
P
Kansky
A
A
D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D046351:Protoporphyria, Erythropoietic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D011524:Protoporphyrins