Erythropoietic protoporphyria
| Erythropoietic protoporphyria | |
|---|---|
| Other names | EPP |
| 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. The severity varies significantly from individual to individual.
A clinically similar form of porphyria, known as X-Linked dominant protoporphyria, was identified in 2008.