[fewer autopsies] Digest Number 1392

[Ellen Madono]

Concerning patients dying during an operation from unknown causes that can't
be confirmed in autopsy unless the cause porphyric is already known. What
is porphyric? On google, I found only mention of pesticides. So it's a
toxin?
Thanks,
Ellen Madono

[Eleana Needham]

Ellen

Porphyria is the name for a group of rare disorders due to inborn errors of
metabolism in which there are deficiencies in the enzymes involved in the
biosynthesis of haemoglobin. Look under titles like "hepatic porphyria"
erythropoietic porphyria", "porphyria cutanea tarda" or "acute intermittent
porphyria".

Best
Eleana

[Alva Irish]

Porphyrins, not porphyric.