Porphyria

A Powerpoint Presentation by Jessi Young (Pd 6/7 Day 2)

Victim of Porphyria

A Brief History The word “porphyria” derives from the Greek root porphura

(πορφύρα) meaning “purple pigment” There is some speculation as to whether or not this term came from the

idea that victims of porphyria would grow bruised and discolored from their disease, and would often take on a violet hue

There is no set date as to when porphyria emerged into mankind. Some of the most prominent cases were found in the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries

The doctor who first gave an accurate description to porphyria was Dr. B. J. Stokvis Hippocrates is cited as one of the very first to ever recognize porphyria

Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria, or CEP, was identified in 1923. To date this is the most prevalent strain of porphyria

Dr. B.j. Stokvis

How it works Primarily, porphyria affects the nervous system. This can

cause abdominal pain, hallucinations, depression, anxiety, and paranoia

Porphyria begins on a cellular level. porphyrins, the main precursors of heme (the main ingredient in hemoglobin etc.) Porphyria creates dysfunction in porphyrins, which leads to

low (and eventually virtually nonexistent) heme production The build-up of dysfunctional porphyrins in the

bloodstream becomes toxic to the tissues in the body, which causes the symptoms of porphyria

Porphyria is largely a blood-related disease, so as a result, in addition to largely affecting the nervous system, the toxic porphyrins have devastating effects on the victim’s liver, usually leading to hepatic encephalopathy (acute liver failure)

Porphyrin & Heme

Signs & Sypmtoms Symptoms of porphyria include:

Abdominal pain Neuropathy Psychiatric disorders Tachycardia (accelerated heart rate) Severe photosensitivity Hemolytic anemia (an abnormal breakdown and loss

of blood cells) Colic Developmental decay Mild to severe liver dysfunction Skin lesions (attributed to photosensitivity)Etc.

Skin Lesions

A Cure? At present, there is no cure for any

strain of porphyria. There are however, vaccinations to prevent it, and treatments for those who contract the disease

Porphyria Vaccination

Mythology Porphyria has been suggested as an

explanation for the origin of vampire and werewolf legends, based upon certain perceived similarities between the condition and the folklore

Dracula

FIN

And just because you love him…

ONE MORE TIME!