WHAT IS ERYTHROPOIETIC PROTOPORHYRIA?
This condition is one of a group of conditions called porphyrias. The porphyrins are chemical building-blocks of haem, which is part of haemoglobin, the chemical in the red blood cells which carries oxygen around the body. The porphyrias are diseases caused by something going wrong in the body’s production of haem. In erythropoietic protoporphyria there is a shortage of an enzyme (a protein which helps convert one chemical substance to another) that normally changes a chemical called protoporphyrin into haem. This causes a build up of protoporphyrin in the red blood cells, and sometimes also in the liver or gall-bladder. The excess protoporphyrin is carried to the skin with the blood in the circulation. This chemical absorbs light and as it does so, sets off reactions which cause a painful or burning feeling in the skin. WHO SUFFERS FROM EPP? It usually starts in early childhood. Males and females are equally affected. There is sometimes a family tendency. HOW DOES EPP SHOW ITSELF? It
