An unusual case of variegate porphyria with possible homozygous inheritance.

Abstract

We report an unusual case of variegate porphyria in a young girl with epilepsy, mental retardation and premature adrenarche. Symptoms of porphyria commenced about the age of 12 years and death occurred about 18 months later. The patient had very low protoporphyrinogen oxidase activity in her cultured fibroblasts. Both parents had half the normal activity of this enzyme in lymphocytes and are heterozygous for the abnormal gene for variegate porphyria. Therefore, it is possible that the patient was a homozygous variant. Anticonvulsant therapy and low hepatic 5 alpha reductase activity were probably other contributing factors to the severity of the condition in this patient.

• Authors: J Coakley, R Hawkins, N Crinis, J McManus, D Blake, Y Nordmann, L Sloan, J Connelly
• Journal: Australian and New Zealand journal of medicine (Aust N Z J Med) Vol. 20 Issue 4 Pg. 587-9 (Aug 1990) ISSN: 0004-8291 [Print] Australia
• PMID: 2222353 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Flavoproteins
• Mitochondrial Proteins
• Porphyrins
• Oxidoreductases
• Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
• Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase
• PPOX protein, human
• Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase
• Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase

Topics

• Animals
• Child
• Coproporphyrinogen Oxidase (blood)
• Cricetinae
• Erythrocytes (enzymology)
• Female
• Flavoproteins
• Homozygote
• Humans
• Hydroxymethylbilane Synthase (blood)
• Mitochondrial Proteins
• Oxidoreductases (blood)
• Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors
• Porphyrias (blood, enzymology, genetics)
• Porphyrins (blood)
• Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase