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Aarsand AK, To-Figueras J, Whatley S, Sandberg S, Schmitt C. Practical recommendations for biochemical and genetic diagnosis of the porphyrias. Liver Int 2024. [PMID: 38940544 DOI: 10.1111/liv.16012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The porphyrias are a group of rare inborn errors of metabolism associated with various clinical presentations and long-term complications, making them relevant differential diagnoses to consider for many clinical specialities, especially hepatologists, gastroenterologists and dermatologists. To diagnose a patient with porphyria requires appropriate biochemical investigations, as clinical features alone are not specific enough. Furthermore, it is important to be aware that abnormalities of porphyrin accumulation and excretion occur in many other disorders that are collectively far more common than the porphyrias. In this review, we provide an overview of porphyria-related tests with their strengths and limitations, give recommendations on requesting and diagnostic approaches in non-expert and expert laboratories for different clinical scenarios and discuss the role of genetic testing in the porphyrias. To diagnose porphyria in a currently symptomatic patient requires analysis of biochemical markers to demonstrate typical patterns of haem precursors in urine, faeces and blood. The use of genomic sequencing in diagnostic pathways for porphyrias requires careful consideration, and the demonstration of increased porphyrin-related markers is necessary prior to genomic testing in symptomatic patients. In the acute porphyrias, genomic testing is presently a useful adjunct for genetic counselling of asymptomatic family members and the most common cutaneous porphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda, is usually a sporadic, non-hereditary disease. Getting a correct and timely porphyria diagnosis is essential for delivering appropriate care and ensuring best patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aasne K Aarsand
- Norwegian Porphyria Centre and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Organization for Quality Improvement of Laboratory Examinations (NOKLUS), Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jordi To-Figueras
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Unit, Hospital Clinic-University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sharon Whatley
- Cardiff Porphyria Service, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Immunology, University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sverre Sandberg
- Norwegian Porphyria Centre and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Organization for Quality Improvement of Laboratory Examinations (NOKLUS), Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Caroline Schmitt
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Université Paris Cité and INSERM U1149, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation, Paris, France
- French Centre of Porphyrias, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Louis Mourier, Colombes, France
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Anderson KE. Acute hepatic porphyrias: Current diagnosis & management. Mol Genet Metab 2019; 128:219-227. [PMID: 31311713 PMCID: PMC6911835 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Each of the four acute hepatic porphyrias is due to mutation of an enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway. The accumulation of pathway intermediates that occur most notably when these diseases are active is the basis for screening and establishing a biochemical diagnosis of these rare disorders. Measurement of enzyme activities and especially DNA testing also are important for diagnosis. Suspicion of the diagnosis and specific testing, particularly measurement of urinary porphobilinogen, are often delayed because the symptoms are nonspecific, even when severe. Urinary porphyrins are also measured, but their elevation is much less specific. If porphobilinogen is elevated, second line testing will establish the type of acute porphyria. DNA testing identifies the familial mutation and enables screening of family members. Management includes removal of triggering factors whenever possible. Intravenous hemin is the most effective treatment for acute attacks. Carbohydrate loading is sometimes used for mild attacks. Cyclic attacks, if frequent, can be prevented by a GnRH analogue. Frequent noncyclic attacks are sometime preventable by scheduled (e.g. weekly) hemin infusions. Long term complications may include chronic pain, renal impairment and liver cancer. Other treatments, including RNA interference, are under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl E Anderson
- The University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health and Internal Medicine, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1109, United States of America.
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Novel LC–MS assays impacting CYP and transporter drug–drug interaction evaluations. Bioanalysis 2018. [DOI: 10.4155/bio-2018-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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A highly selective and sensitive LC–MS/HRMS assay for quantifying coproporphyrins as organic anion-transporting peptide biomarkers. Bioanalysis 2017; 9:1787-1806. [DOI: 10.4155/bio-2017-0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Coproporphyrin-I (CP-I) and coproporphyrin-III (CP-III) in plasma and urine have been proposed as biomarkers for assessing drug–drug interactions involving hepatic drug transporters such as organic anion-transporting peptides (OATP), 1B1 and 1B3. Materials & methods: Plasma and urine extracts were analyzed for CP-I/CP-III using a TripleTOF API6600 mass spectrometer. Results: Previously unreported, CP-I/CP-III doubly charged ions (m/z 328.14) were used as precursor ions to improve the assay sensitivity and selectivity over the singly charged precursor ions (m/z 655.28). Levels of CP-I and CP-III measured ranged 0.45–1.1 and 0.050–0.50 ng/ml in plasma and 5–35 and 1–35 ng/ml in urine, respectively. Conclusion: The described highly selective and sensitive CP-I/CP-III LC–HRMS assay offers options for earlier characterization and clinical safety projections for OATP1B1/3-mediated drug–drug interactions along with pharmacokinetic analyses of a new chemical entity as part of first-in-human clinical studies.
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Benton CM, Lim CK. Liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of haem biosynthetic intermediates: a review. Biomed Chromatogr 2012; 26:1009-23. [DOI: 10.1002/bmc.2772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chang Kee Lim
- Clinical Biochemistry; King's College Hospital; Denmark Hill; London; SE5 9RS; UK
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To-Figueras J, Badenas C, Carrera C, Muñoz C, Milá M, Lecha M, Herrero C. Genetic and biochemical characterization of 16 acute intermittent porphyria cases with a high prevalence of the R173W mutation. J Inherit Metab Dis 2006; 29:580-5. [PMID: 16817012 DOI: 10.1007/s10545-006-0344-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2006] [Accepted: 05/15/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a metabolic disease with a variable prevalence among different countries. In some areas of southern Europe it remains to be fully evaluated. We undertook a genetic and biochemical study of 16 unrelated Spanish AIP patients and relatives. The genetic analyses showed they harboured the following mutations in the porphobilinogen deaminase gene: R173W, G111R, L278P, L238P, R116W, R26C, 340insT, 730delCT, 691del30bp, and IVS14+1g>a. The mutation R173W was found in 6 patients (37.5%), including the only patients of our series with >3 recurrent porphyria attacks. While in clinical remission, all AIP patients exhibited sustained increased excretion of porphyrins and precursors. PBG excretion showed a high between-subject variation and was not related to erythrocyte PBG deaminase activity. The study of family members allowed the identification of 22 asymptomatic AIP carriers. These included 8 persons harbouring the R173W mutation belonging to four different families. Six of these latent AIP subjects showed increased PBG elimination, and in two the urinary levels were >10-fold the normal limit. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the R173W mutation may have a high biochemical and clinical penetrance among AIP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J To-Figueras
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Unit, Dermatology Unit, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Sylantiev C, Schoenfeld N, Mamet R, Groozman GB, Drory VE. Acute neuropathy mimicking porphyria induced by aminolevulinic acid during photodynamic therapy. Muscle Nerve 2005; 31:390-3. [PMID: 15490483 DOI: 10.1002/mus.20167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
An 82-year-old man developed severe, acute, predominantly motor polyneuropathy, signs of autonomic involvement, and skin changes following aminolevulinic acid (ALA) administration. The compound was used as a prodrug for photodynamic therapy of Barrett's esophagitis. Changes were observed in various parameters of the heme pathway. The case reported represents a rare response to ALA treatment, resembling an acute attack of hepatic porphyria with neurological features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantin Sylantiev
- Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6, Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 642 39, Israel
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Giovannetti R, Bartocci V, Pucciarelli F, Ricciutelli M. Reactions of anionic porphyrin with group 11 elements: a spectrophotometric and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry study. Talanta 2004; 63:857-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2003.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2003] [Revised: 12/05/2003] [Accepted: 12/15/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Danton M, Lim CK. Identification of monovinyl tripropionic acid porphyrins and metabolites from faeces of patients with hereditary coproporphyria by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2004; 18:2309-2316. [PMID: 15384152 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Harderoporphyrin (2-vinyl-4,6,7-tripropionic acid porphyrin) and its metabolites in faeces of patients with hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) have been separated and characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-Q-TOFMS/MS). The metabolites identified were 2-ethyl-4,6,7-tripropionic acid porphyrin, 2-hydro-4,6,7-tripropionic acid porphyrin, 2-methoxyethyl-4,6,7-tripropionic acid porphyrin and 2-acetyl-4,6,7-tripropionic acid porphyrin. Isomers of harderoporphyrin derived from isomerization of harderoporphyrinogen were also detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Danton
- MRC Bioanalytical Science Group, School of Biological & Chemical Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK
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Gross U, Sassa S, Arndt T, Doss MO. Survival of two patients with severe delta-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase deficiency porphyria. J Inherit Metab Dis 2001; 24:60-4. [PMID: 11286384 DOI: 10.1023/a:1005610922789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The course of delta-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase activity was studied over the 23 years in erythrocytes of two male patients. The enzyme activity was originally 1-2%, which then increased to approximately 8%, of normal levels several years after clinical manifestation of the acute hepatic porphyria syndrome. Urinary excretions of delta-aminolaevulinic acid and coproporphyrin III were excessively increased in the two patients with compound-heterozygous delta-aminolaevulinic acid dehydratase deficiency porphyria.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Gross
- Division of Clinical Biochemistry, Philipps University Hospital, Marburg, Germany.
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