What Are the Porphyrias?

The porphyrias are a group of metabolic conditions caused by a
deficiency of certain enzymes; as a result, the body overproduces the
compounds which synthesize heme. Those compounds are called
porphyrins. Heme is the red pigment which is in the red blood cells
and the bone marrow. There is a multi-step process in the formation of
heme, and when there aren’t sufficient enzymes, the steps cannot
be completed to formulate heme.
In the past, the porphyrias were sometimes referred to as Dracula
disease and Vampire Syndrome or Vampire disease.
The symptoms of the porphyrias depend on which t... From: <a
href='http://factoidz.com/what-are-the-porphyrias/' title='The
porphyrias are a group of metabolic conditions caused by a deficiency
of certain enzymes; as a result, the body overproduces the compounds
which synthesize heme. Those compounds are called porphyrins. Heme is
the red pigment which is in the red blood cells and the bone marrow.
'>What Are the Porphyrias?</a>