Porphyria biochemistry

Knowledge of the biochemistry of the porphyrins and of heme is basic to understanding the varied functions of hemoproteins (see below) in the body. The porphyrias are a group of diseases caused by abnormalities in the pathway of biosynthesis of the various porphyrins. Although porphyrias are not very prevalent, physicians must be aware of them. A much more prevalent clinical condition is jaundice, due to elevation of bilirubin in the plasma. This elevation is due to overproduction of bilirubin or to failure of its excretion and is seen in numerous diseases ranging from hemolytic anemias to viral hepatitis and to cancer of the pancreas. 

Biochemistry Underlies the Causes, Diagnoses, Treatments of the Porphyrias... 

Elder GH Haem synthesis and the porphyrias. In Scientific Foundations of Biochemistry in Clinical Practice, 2nd ed. Williams DL, Marks V (editors). Butterworth-Heinemann, 1994. 

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Texas Medical School at Houston Houston, Texas Porphyria... 

Kaneko JJ Porphyrins and the porphyrias. In Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals, 4th ed. Edited by Kaneko)). San Diego, Academic Press, 1989, pp 235-255. 

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