Heme is a major component of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of redblood cells.
This typically includes analysis of aurinesample from the patient.
There are many types of porphyria, but, overall, these conditions are rare.
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How Common Is Porphyria?
For the rarest form of the condition (ADP), only six cases have ever been recorded.
What Causes Porphyria?
Verywell / Shideh Ghandeharizadeh
Porphyrias usually develop because of an inherited genetic mutation.
The mutation causes problems with the enzymes that work together to create blood cells.
What Are Enzymes?
Enzymes are chemicals in the body (generally proteins) that speed up a chemical process.
The production of the protein in yourred blood cellsthat carries oxygen throughout your body (hemoglobin) is complex.
There are also rare forms of porphyria that are not sparked by genetic mutations.
Acute Porphyria
Acute porphyrias evolve over several days and get worse with time.
In many cases, a diagnosis only comes after other conditions have been ruled out.
Polyphorin tests are a common way to check the level of these chemicals in your body.
The tests can be done using urine,stool, blood, or other body fluids.
Rapidly detecting elevated urinary porphyrins can allow treatment to be initiated quickly.
Typically, you will bring the container to a lab.
While you wait, your doctor may give you information about porphyria and explain how to manage any symptoms.
There are several types of porphyrins, and each has an acceptable normal range.
Anything above these ranges could signal an abnormally high amount of these chemicals.
These conditions can cause symptoms like urine color changes, abdominal pain, and sensitivity to sunlight.
It is usually diagnosed by analyzing a urine sample.
The treatment for the condition depends on the punch in of porphyria.
Your doctor will talk to you about the ranges that apply to your situation.
Coverage for individual lab tests depends on your insurance plan.
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