Diagnostic Strategies for Autosomal Dominant Acute Porphyrias: Retrospective Analysis of 467 Unrelated Patients Referred for Mutational Analysis of the HMBS, CPOX, or PPOX Gene

Abstract

When PBG excretion is increased, 2 investigations (plasma fluorescence scanning, the coproporphyrin isomer ratio) are sufficient, with rare exceptions, to identify the type of acute porphyria. When the results of PBG, 5-aminolevulinate, and porphyrin analyses are within reference intervals and clinical suspicion that a past illness was caused by an acute porphyria remains high, mutation analysis of the HMBS gene followed by PBGD assay is an effective strategy for diagnosis or exclusion of AIP.