REPORT DESCRIPTION
Porphyria Treatment Market – Overview
Porphyria is an inherited rare disorder that affects the nervous system or skin and may cause abdominal
pain. Cells of porphyria patients are unable to change body chemicals called porphyrins and its precursors
into heme, the substance responsible for blood color. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and
Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the exact rates of porphyria are unknown and vary globally. For
instance, porphyria cutanea tarda is most common in the U.S., and variegate porphyria is frequent in South
America.
Some porphyrias such as erythropoietic protoporphyria, hepatoerythropoietic porphyria, and congenital
erythropoietic porphyria occur when an individual receives two abnormal genes, one from each parent. The
chances of an individual passing the abnormal gene or genes to the next generation depends on the type of
porphyria. Acute porphyrias affects the nervous system and abdomen. Its attacks develop over hours or
days and can last up to several weeks. Cutaneous porphyrias affects the skin. According to the American
Porphyria Foundation, acute porphyria affects around 1 to 2 individual per 100,000. High incidence rate
was reported in South Africa and Sweden.