Porphyria Flashcards
definition of porphyrias
- a group of metabolic disorders resulting from a mutation in one of the enzymes in the heme biosynthetic pathway
what are porphyrins
- the toxic metabolites produced from the heme biochemical pathway
can porphyrins be cleared?
- no
why can porphyrins not be cleared?
- due to deficient enzyme action
function of porphyrins
- no useful function
- act as highly reactive oxidants and damage tissues
heme is a part of
- hemoglobin
- myglobin
- catalase
- peroxidases
- cytochromes
where is heme made?
- 85% in erythroid cells
- rest in liver
what is heme used to make
- P450 enzymes
first enzyme in heme synthesis pathway
- ALA synthetase (ALAS)
importance of ALAS
- first and rate limiting enzyme
what induces ALAS
- increased demand for heme
what down regulates ALAS
- the heme molecule
- by feedback inhibition
role of ALAS
- catalyzes conversion of glycine and succinyl CoA
- forms delta-aminolevulinic acid
co-factor required by ALAS
- pyridoxal-5-phosphate
things that induces ALAS
- depletion of hepatic pool of heme
- drugs, hormones that induce CYPs and ALAS1
- caloric and carbohydrate restriction
- metabolic stress
role of metabolic stress in inducing ALAS
- may induce heme oxygenase and accelerate heme destruction
commonality of acute intermittent porphyria
- most common acute porphyria
acute intermittent porphyria due to deficiency in
- hepatic PBG deaminase
- hydroxymethylbilane synthase
acute intermittent porphyria genetic pattern
- autosomal dominant
- incomplete (low) penetrance
acute intermittent porphyria - effect on erythrocyte PBG deaminase activity in affected individuals
- 50% reduction
acute intermittent porphyria - when does it appear
- latent prior to puberty
acute intermittent porphyria - in males or females?
- symptoms more common in females
acute intermittent porphyria - what levels are increased during crisis?
- urinary ALA
- PBG
reaction that PBG deaminase catalyzes
- PBG -> hydroxymethylbilane
acute intermittent porphyria - what is primarily increased by environmental and other factors that increase disease severity
- ALAS1
does acute intermittent porphyria always develop in all individuals with the mutation?
- no
enzyme levels in acute intermittent porphyria
- low PBGD activity
- induction of ALAS1
GI symptoms of acute intermittent porphyria acute attack
- abdominal pain
- no inflammatory signs
most common feature of acute intermittent porphyria acute attack
- abdominal pain
no inflammatory signs means
- no elevated WBC
- no fever
- no rebound tenderness
peripheral neuropathy symptoms of acute intermittent porphyria
- sensory and motor neuropathy
- may precede abdominal pain
acute intermittent porphyria- motor peripheral neuropathy in prolonged attacks
- involve cranial nerves
- lead to bulbar paralysis, respiratory impairment, death
acute intermittent porphyria - autonomic nervous system features
- elevated catecholamines
acute intermittent porphyria - elevated catechomaines cause
- elevated heart rate
- elevated blood pressure
acute intermittent porphyria - neuropsychiatric findings
- insomnia
acute intermittent porphyria - CNS involvement
- seizures
acute intermittent porphyria - hypothalamus features
- SAIDH
- hyponatremia
what is hyponatremia?
- low sodium
acute intermittent porphyria - GU symptoms
- dark or reddish brown urine
acute intermittent porphyria - abnormal color of urine due to
- accumulation of porphyrins or porphyrin precursors
abnormal urine color between attacks
- may lessen or return to normal
acute intermittent porphyria - exacerbating factors of an acute attack
- drugs
- crash diets
- endogenous hormones
- cigarette smoking
- metabolic stresses