Clara-Maria Schutte, Cornelius H van der Meyden, Linette van Niekerk, Mandisa Kakaza, Riaan van Coller, Veronica Ueckermann, Nicky M Oosthuizen
The hepatic porphyrias are a group of rare metabolic disorders, each of which is associated with a specific enzymatic alteration in the haem biosynthesis pathway. In South Africa (SA), a high incidence of variegate porphyria (VP) is seen as a result of a founder effect, but acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is also encountered. The development of acute neurovisceral attacks is related to environmental factors, including medications, hormones and diet. A possible manifestation of a severe attack is rapidly progressing quadriparesis, which may mimic Guillain-Barré syndrome...
November 20, 2015: South African Medical Journal, Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde