title: Porphyrias: A 2015 update.
abstract: The hereditary porphyrias comprise a group of eight metabolic disorders of the heme biosynthesis pathway. Each porphyria is caused by abnormal function at a separate enzymatic step resulting in a specific accumulation of heme precursors. Porphyrias are classified as hepatic or erythropoietic, based on the organ system in which heme precursors (δ-aminolevulinic acid [ALA], porphobilinogen and porphyrins) are overproduced. Clinically, porphyrias are characterized by acute neurovisceral symptoms, skin lesions or both. However, most if not all the porphyrias impair hepatic or gastrointestinal function. Acute hepatic porphyrias present with severe abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, confusion and seizure, which may be life threatening, and patients are at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis. Porphyria Cutanea presents with skin fragility and blisters, and patients are at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma with liver iron overload. Erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked protoporphyria present with acute painful photosensitivity, and patients are at risk of acute liver failure. Altogether, porphyrias are still underdiagnosed, but once they are suspected, early diagnosis based on measurement of biochemical metabolites that accumulate in the blood, urine, or feces is essential so specific treatment can be started as soon as possible and long-term liver complications are prevented. Screening families to identify presymptomatic carriers is also crucial to prevent overt disease and chronic hepatic complications.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1149 CNRS ERL 8252, centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, 16, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France; Laboratory of excellence, GR-Ex, 24, Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Zoubida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1149 CNRS ERL 8252, centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, 16, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France; Laboratory of excellence, GR-Ex, 24, Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75015 Paris, France; Université Versailles-Saint-Quentin, 55, Avenue de Paris, 78000 Versailles, France.
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lyoumi
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1149 CNRS ERL 8252, centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, 16, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France; Laboratory of excellence, GR-Ex, 24, Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Gael
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1149 CNRS ERL 8252, centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, 16, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France; Université Versailles-Saint-Quentin, 55, Avenue de Paris, 78000 Versailles, France; Université Paris Diderot, site Bichat, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018 Paris, France; Centre français des porphyries, hôpital Louis-Mourier, AP-HP, 92701 Colombes, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Deybach
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1149 CNRS ERL 8252, centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, 16, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France; Université Versailles-Saint-Quentin, 55, Avenue de Paris, 78000 Versailles, France; Université Paris Diderot, site Bichat, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018 Paris, France; Centre français des porphyries, hôpital Louis-Mourier, AP-HP, 92701 Colombes, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gouya
authors.affiliation: INSERM U1149 CNRS ERL 8252, centre de recherche sur l'inflammation, 16, rue Henri-Huchard, 75018 Paris, France; Université Versailles-Saint-Quentin, 55, Avenue de Paris, 78000 Versailles, France; Université Paris Diderot, site Bichat, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75018 Paris, France; Centre français des porphyries, hôpital Louis-Mourier, AP-HP, 92701 Colombes, France. Electronic address: herve.puy@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Puy
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors