Table 2

Human porphyrias: major clinical and laboratory features

PorphyriaDeficient enzymeInheritancePrincipal symptoms, NV or CPEnzyme activity, % of normalIncreased porphyrin precursors and/or porphyrins*
ErythrocytesUrineStool
Acute hepatic porphyrias        
    ADP ALA-dehydratase AR NV ∼ 5 Zn-protoporphyrin ALA, coproporphyrin III — 
    AIP HMB- synthase AD NV ∼ 50 — ALA, PBG, uroporphyrin — 
    HCP COPRO-oxidase AD NV and CP ∼ 50 — ALA, PBG, coproporphyrin III Coproporphyrin III 
    VP PROTO-oxidase AD NV and CP ∼ 50 — ALA, PBG, coproporphyrin III Coproporphyrin III, Protoporphyrin 
Hepatic cutaneous porphyrias        
    PCT URO-decarboxylase Sporadic or AD CP < 20 — Uroporphyrin, 7-carboxylate porphyrin Isocoproporphyrin 
Erythropoietic cutaneous porphyrias        
    CEP URO-synthase AR CP 1-5 Uroporphyrin I, coproporphyrin I Uroporphyrin I, coproporphyrin I Coproporphyrin I 
    EPP Ferrochelatase AR CP ∼ 20-30 Primarily free protoporphyrin — Protoporphyrin 
    XLP ALA-synthase 2 XL CP > 100 Free and zinc protoporphyrin — Protoporphyrim 
PorphyriaDeficient enzymeInheritancePrincipal symptoms, NV or CPEnzyme activity, % of normalIncreased porphyrin precursors and/or porphyrins*
ErythrocytesUrineStool
Acute hepatic porphyrias        
    ADP ALA-dehydratase AR NV ∼ 5 Zn-protoporphyrin ALA, coproporphyrin III — 
    AIP HMB- synthase AD NV ∼ 50 — ALA, PBG, uroporphyrin — 
    HCP COPRO-oxidase AD NV and CP ∼ 50 — ALA, PBG, coproporphyrin III Coproporphyrin III 
    VP PROTO-oxidase AD NV and CP ∼ 50 — ALA, PBG, coproporphyrin III Coproporphyrin III, Protoporphyrin 
Hepatic cutaneous porphyrias        
    PCT URO-decarboxylase Sporadic or AD CP < 20 — Uroporphyrin, 7-carboxylate porphyrin Isocoproporphyrin 
Erythropoietic cutaneous porphyrias        
    CEP URO-synthase AR CP 1-5 Uroporphyrin I, coproporphyrin I Uroporphyrin I, coproporphyrin I Coproporphyrin I 
    EPP Ferrochelatase AR CP ∼ 20-30 Primarily free protoporphyrin — Protoporphyrin 
    XLP ALA-synthase 2 XL CP > 100 Free and zinc protoporphyrin — Protoporphyrim 

AR indicates autosomal recessive; AD, autosomal dominant; XL, X-linked; NV, neurovisceral; CP, cutaneous photosensitivity; and —, not applicable.

*

Increases that may be important for diagnosis.

A polymorphism in intron 3 of the wild-type allele affects the level of enzyme activity and clinical expression.

Increased activity resulting from “gain-of-function” mutations in ALAS2 exon 11.

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