PORPHYRIA IN CHILDHOOD

Porphyria in childhood is an uncommon problem but the recognition of t hese disorders is vitally important for affected children. Of the cuta neous porphyrias, erythropoietic protoporphyria, congenital erythropoi etic porphyria, hepatoerythropoietic porphyria, and the hereditary for m of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) can present in infancy or childhood . This article focuses on the porphyrias that present in infants and c hildren along with a brief discussion of pathogenesis, cutaneous histo pathology, and genetics of these metabolic disorders. Copyright (C) 19 95 by W.B. Saunders Company