Porphyrias

As part of our commitment to resident education, Cutis is excited to offer this new monthly section with board-relevant, easy-to-review material. Each month this section will focus on the key facts of commonly tested topics. It will be a resource for review while on the go, for group study, or for last-minute preparation. This section is not meant to be comprehensive but rather a supplement to other study materials.

The porphyrias encompass a group of both inherited and acquired metabolic disorders resulting from the dysfunction of enzymes involved in the heme biosynthesis pathway. The porphyrias often have overlapping clinical features, making the knowledge of the laboratory workup essential in distinguishing between them.

To view the answers to the practice questions, click here. (Registration is required to view the answers.)