Types of non-acute porphyrias Congenital erythropoietic porphyria Erythropoietic protoporphyria Porphyria cutanea tarda 1 Congenital erythropoietic porphyria Otherwise known as Gunther's disease, it is fortunately very rare. Both sexes are equally affected. Symptoms usually start in the first few years of life. Dystrophic nails may curl up and drop off. Lenticular scarring may lead to blindness.
Teeth become brownish-pink due to their porphyrin content.
Patients often have haemolytic anaemia, and splenomegaly may co-exist. 2 Erythropoietic protoporphyria More common than congenital erythropoietic porphyria, it can occur at any age, including infancy and childhood. It usually presents before the age of ten, often in early childhood. Clinical features include pruritic, urticarial swelling and redness of the skin on exposure to sunlight. One of the most distressing symptoms is an unbearable burning sensation on affected areas.