Description... Meaning of the Name.
The word Porphyria actually comes from the Greek Porphyros, meaning reddish-purple, and refers to a substance prominent in the blood and urine of a person with Porphyria.
Heme...?
Although there are many types of Porphyria, they all have the same problem, they all have a build-up of porphyrins in their body. Porphyrins are to help make heme a part of the red blood cell (Haemoglobin). But, a build up of the porphyrins in the body causes damages. It most often affects the nervous system and skin.
Here's a diagram showing how haemoglobin transport oxygen to our body.
Here's a diagram showing how haemoglobin transport oxygen to our body.
Different Types of Porphyria.
Here's chart of the types of Porphyria and the deficient enzyme:
Acute Porphyria & Cutaneous Porphyria.
So there are two main types of Porphyria, Acute Porphyria and Cutaneous Porphyria. What are there difference?
Acute Porphyria.
Acute Porphyria, mainly affect the nervous system. The result and affect of having Acute Porphyria would be abdominal pain, vomiting, acute neuropathy(which is any disease or injury affecting nerves or nerve cells), muscle weakness, seizures(it is when the nerves of someone act strangely) and mental disturbances (including hallucination, depression, anxiety and paranoia)
Cutaneous Porphyria.
Cutaneous Porphyria, mainly affect the skin, causing photosensitivity(when people's skin is sensitive to sunlight), blisters, necrosis(when a part of a person's body die, turned black and fall off, this usually happens when there isn't enough blood reaching the tissues) of skin and gums, itching, swelling, and increased hair growth on areas such as the forehead. Unlike the other types of Porphyria, there is no abdominal pain.
