Marisa Wexler, MS, senior science writer —

People with inactive porphyria who choose to fast for a day as part of their religious observances generally don’t see any unusual porphyria symptoms, a recent study reported. The study, “A 25-Hour Fast Among Quiescent Hereditary Coproporphyria and Variegate Porphyria Patients is Associated With a Low Risk…

Treatment with Scenesse (afamelanotide) — an implantable medicine used to treat people with intolerance to light — can help improve life quality for those with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), making it easier for them to do certain activities, such as going to work or on vacation, a recent study…

A woman with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) developed acute liver injury due to treatment with Givlaari (givosiran), according to a recent report. Her case, while “more rare” as a therapy side effect, highlights the importance of monitoring patients starting on Givlaari for liver damage, the scientists noted. The…

The case of a teenager in Nepal who was diagnosed with porphyria following a detailed series of clinical tests — part of a “diagnostic conundrum” — was described in a recent report. “This case highlights the baffling amalgamation of symptoms that simulate common diseases of concern yet are buried…

The case of a woman with porphyria, who had a dangerous blood clot develop in a large vein heading into the heart, highlights the importance of identifying and promptly treating such issues in porphyria patients, researchers noted. The report, “Inferior Vena Cava Thrombosis in a Porphyria…

A new mutation in the HMBS gene was found to be the cause of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) in a Chinese woman who experienced symptom flares related to an unexpected pregnancy, a case study reported. “This case contributes to the existing knowledge on AIP and its causative genetic mutations,”…

A wearable device capable of measuring light exposure could help to predict symptoms of erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), and may be useful as a measure to include in clinical trials, according to a recent study. The study, “Prospective observational pilot study of quantitative light dosimetry in erythropoietic…

The case of a woman with variegate porphyria (VP) diagnosed following an acute attack that occurred after weight loss surgery was described in a recent report. Study authors recommend that people planning weight loss surgery first have a screening for porphyria, since this type of surgery may…

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), the most common form of porphyria, is much less common among people with kidney disease today than it has been in the past, a recent study suggests. “This study shows, for the first time, that in modern hemodialysis era, possibly due to improved porphyrins’ metabolism…

People with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) who have health problems related to the kidneys or liver are more likely to have issues with oral health than those without the genetic disorder, according to a new study. Specifically, patients with kidney failure or liver scarring were found to have worse…