Erythropoietic protoporphyria | |
---|---|
Other names | EPP[1] |
Chronic skin lesions of EPP | |
Specialty | Endocrinology, dermatology |
Risk factors | pain and irritation |
Erythropoietic protoporphyria (or commonly called EPP) is a form of porphyria, which varies in severity and can be very painful. It arises from a deficiency in the enzyme ferrochelatase, leading to abnormally high levels of protoporphyrin in the red blood cells (erythrocytes), plasma, skin, and liver.[2] The severity varies significantly from individual to individual.
A clinically similar form of porphyria, known as X-Linked dominant protoporphyria, was identified in 2008.[3]