Entry - #177000 - PROTOPORPHYRIA, ERYTHROPOIETIC, 1; EPP1 - OMIM
# 177000

PROTOPORPHYRIA, ERYTHROPOIETIC, 1; EPP1


Alternative titles; symbols

PROTOPORPHYRIA, ERYTHROPOIETIC; EPP
ERYTHROHEPATIC PROTOPORPHYRIA
HEME SYNTHETASE DEFICIENCY
FERROCHELATASE DEFICIENCY


Phenotype-Gene Relationships

Location Phenotype Phenotype
MIM number
Inheritance Phenotype
mapping key
Gene/Locus Gene/Locus
MIM number
18q21.31 Protoporphyria, erythropoietic, 1 177000 AR 3 FECH 612386
Clinical Synopsis
 
Phenotypic Series
 

INHERITANCE
- Autosomal recessive
ABDOMEN
Liver
- Liver failure
Biliary Tract
- Gallstones
SKIN, NAILS, & HAIR
Skin
- Light-sensitive dermatitis
- Itching
- Burning
- Erythema
- Edema
- Mild scarring
HEMATOLOGY
- Hemolytic anemia
LABORATORY ABNORMALITIES
- Mild hypertriglyceridemia
- Fluorescence of red blood cells by UV microscopy
- Excess protoporphyrin in bile and feces but not in urine
- Reduced ferrochelatase activity
MISCELLANEOUS
- Onset usually before age 10 years
- Compound heterozygosity common
- Can resemble autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance because the disorder often results from inheritance of a null FECH allele in trans with a low-expression FECH mutation (612386.0015) that is prevalent in some populations
MOLECULAR BASIS
- Caused by mutation in the ferrochelatase gene (FECH, 612386.0001)
Protoporphyria, erythropoietic - PS177000 - 3 Entries

TEXT

A number sign (#) is used with this entry because erythropoietic protoporphyria-1 (EPP1) is caused by compound heterozygous or homozygous mutation in the gene encoding ferrochelatase (FECH; 612386) on chromosome 18q21. The disorder most often results from inheritance of a null FECH allele in trans with a low-expression FECH mutation (612386.0015) prevalent in some populations, resembling autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance.


Description

Erythropoietic protoporphyria-1 is an inborn error of porphyrin metabolism caused by decreased activity of the enzyme ferrochelatase, the terminal enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway, which catalyzes the insertion of iron into protoporphyrin to form heme. EPP is characterized clinically by photosensitivity to visible light commencing in childhood, and biochemically by elevated red cell protoporphyrin levels (Todd, 1994).

Genetic Heterogeneity of Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

Also see X-linked erythropoietic protoporphyria (XLEPP; 300752), caused by mutation in the ALAS2 gene (301300) on chromosome Xp11, and EPP2 (618015), caused by mutation in the CLPX gene (615611) on chromosome 15q22.


Clinical Features

Light-sensitive dermatitis commencing in childhood, usually before 10 years of age, is the presenting finding in erythropoietic protoporphyria (Peterka et al., 1965; DeLeo et al., 1976). Patients experience itching and burning, and develop erythema even after brief exposure to bright light. Chronic skin changes sometimes occur (Poh-Fitzpatrick, 1978). Herbert et al. (1991) described a second-degree burn of the light-exposed abdominal wall resulting from exposure during liver transplantation. The patient also had severe polyneuropathy with quadriparesis. Although most cases of EPP present in childhood, Henderson et al. (1995) reported a patient who presented at the age of 33 years and cited even older ages at presentation, namely 62 years (Fallon et al., 1989) and 69 years (Murphy et al., 1985).

Whereas most EPP patients experience only a painful photosensitivity, a small number develop liver complications, including fatal liver damage, due to the accumulation of excessive amounts of protoporphyrin in the liver (Bloomer et al., 1975; Cripps et al., 1977; Bloomer, 1979). Gallstones pigmented with protoporphyrin have been reported. Both of the British patients of Magnus et al. (1961) and one of the patients of Haeger-Aronsen (1963) were operated on for gallstones at a relatively young age.


Biochemical Features

The essential biochemical abnormality in EPP is overproduction of protoporphyrin, as recognized in the original description by Magnus et al. (1961). The normal level of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), of up to about 60 microg/dl red cells, may be increased in manifest cases to over 1,000 microg/dl. Fluorescence of a large proportion of red blood cells can also be observed by ultraviolet microscopy even when FEP is little or not increased. The excess porphyrin comes from both erythropoietic and hepatic tissue (Scholnick et al., 1971), leading to the suggestion of an alternative name, erythrohepatic porphyria.

Reduction in activity of ferrochelatase to 10 to 25% of normal levels has been demonstrated (Bonkowsky et al., 1975; Bloomer, 1980). This is unlike the dominantly inherited forms of porphyria (121300, 176000, 176100, 176200) in which 50% reduction of activity of the specific enzyme is observed (Romeo, 1977; Meyer and Schmid, 1978).

Went and Klasen (1984) found that the average hemoglobin concentration in EPP patients was 1.5 g/100 ml below that for their age- and sex-matched relatives.


Pathogenesis

Ohgari et al. (2005) coexpressed human ferrochelatase carrying His- and HA-tags in a tandem fashion in Escherichia coli and found that ferrochelatase formed a homodimer. Homodimers of missense-mutated enzyme were produced in small amounts and showed very low activity. Heterodimers with wildtype and missense-mutated enzyme had reduced, but significant, enzymatic activity without a marked change of Km values for substrates. Heat treatment led to a rapid inactivation of the heterodimeric mutants, indicating instability. Ohgari et al. (2005) hypothesized that instability of the heterodimer containing normal and mutated ferrochelatase, as well as the low production levels due to the structural defect of the mutant protein, causes the weak enzymatic activity of ferrochelatase in EPP patients.


Clinical Management

Management includes avoidance of sunlight; skin protection by parenteral administration of beta-carotene has given equivocal results (Mathews-Roth et al., 1970; Corbett et al., 1977; Poh-Fitzpatrick, 1978). Liver disease may be ameliorated by treatment with cholestyramine (Bloomer, 1979).

In 5 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria, Harms et al. (2009) reported favorable results after treatment with afamelanotide, an alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (see 176830) analog that induces epidermal melanin formation. Both tolerance to artificial light and melanin density increased significantly after 120 days.

The hypomorphic C allele of FECH uses a cryptic intron 3 acceptor site and results in reduction of FECH activity; when the C allele occurs with a severe FECH mutation on the other allele, overall FECH activity falls below a critical threshold and EPP results. Oustric et al. (2014) identified a sequence that, when targeted by an antisense oligonucleotide, prevented usage of the cryptic splice site between exons 3 and 4, resulting in the transcription of an unstable mRNA. In lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from symptomatic EPP subjects, transfection of this antisense oligonucleotide reduced the usage of the cryptic splice site and efficiently redirected the splicing of intron 3 toward the physiologic acceptor site, thereby increasing the amount of functional FECH mRNA. Oustric et al. (2014) found that administering the antisense oligonucleotide into developing human erythroblasts from an overtly EPP subject markedly increased production of wildtype FECH mRNA and reduced the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) to a level similar to that measured in asymptomatic EPP subjects.

Balwani et al. (2023) performed a phase 2 clinical trial in 93 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria and 9 patients with X-linked protoporphyria (300752) aged 18 to 75 years who were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to placebo or dersimelagon 100 mg or 300 mg once daily for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to 16 weeks in the time to first prodromal symptom associated with sunlight exposure. Daily sunlight exposure and symptoms were recorded in an electronic diary. Quality of life and safety were also assessed. Among enrollees, 90% completed the treatment period. There was a significant change in time to the first prodromal symptom compared with the placebo group for the 100 mg dersimelagon group (53.8 minutes, p = 0.008) and for the 300 gm dersimelagon group (62.5 minutes, p = 0.003). Quality of life improved in both treatment groups. The most common adverse events that occurred or worsened during treatment were nausea, freckles, headache, and skin hyperpigmentation.


Inheritance

EPP can be caused by compound heterozygous or homozygous mutation in the FECH gene, and is most often caused by coinheritance of a mutation in the FECH gene in trans with a low-expression IVS3-48C mutation that is prevalent in some populations (Herrero et al., 2007).

Early studies indicated autosomal dominant inheritance of EPP, but noted that some persons who are obligatory carriers and have lifelong elevation of protoporphyrin levels may never develop photosensitivity (Donaldson et al., 1967; Reed et al., 1970; Hovding et al., 1971). Three generations were affected in the family studied by Lynch and Miedler (1965). Haeger-Aronsen (1963) found 5 cases in 3 generations of a Swedish family. In an exhaustive study in the Netherlands, Went and Klasen (1984) discovered 200 patients in 91 families. In 46 of these families, only a single patient was discovered. The presence of an occasional fluorescent red blood cell combined with normal protoporphyrin levels was observed in half of the children and sibs of patients and in 1 of their parents. Thus, this trait appeared to be autosomal recessive. However, the segregation ratio in sibships with at least 1 patient with EPP was 22.2% or 29.6%, depending on the type of correction made for bias of ascertainment; consequently, Went and Klasen (1984) concluded that EPP is a recessive. Deybach et al. (1986) observed a homozygote for erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Norris et al. (1990) likewise suggested that the inheritance is not that of a simple autosomal dominant and that inheritance of more than one gene may be required for disease expression.

Gouya et al. (1996) contributed to the understanding of the unusual inheritance in EPP. They identified a deletion of exon 10 (612386.0008) in a proband with a classic presentation and in his clinically asymptomatic brother and father. The proband had a history of skin photosensitivity without liver failure and 25% residual enzyme activity in lymphocytes. The asymptomatic brother and father had 50% enzyme activity. The mother was clinically normal and her enzyme activity was within the low normal range (79% of control activity). Using an intragenic dimorphism, 1520C/T, Gouya et al. (1996) showed that the mother was heterozygous CT, and that she had given a different chromosome to her asymptomatic son than to her affected son. Gouya et al. (1996) quantitated the mRNAs transcribed from each FECH allele of the mother by a primer extension assay and by a ribonuclease protection assay. The data supported the hypothesis that in this family the EPP phenotype resulted from the coinheritance of a 'low-output' normal FECH allele (isoallele) and a mutant EX10DEL allele. The site of the mutation in the low-output allele was not determined until Gouya et al. (2002) identified an intronic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), IVS3-48T-C (612386.0015), that modulates the use of a constitutive aberrant acceptor splice site 63 bp upstream of the normal one. The aberrantly spliced mRNA is degraded by a nonsense-mediated decay mechanism (NMD), producing a decreased steady-state level of mRNA and the additional FECH enzyme deficiency necessary for EPP phenotypic expression. Thus, the incomplete penetrance of EPP was explained.

Gouya et al. (2006) stated that they knew of only 7 reported cases of autosomal recessive transmission of EPP. Most reports described the inheritance as autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance. Gouya et al. (2006) studied a cohort of 173 white French EPP families and a group of 360 unrelated healthy subjects from 4 ethnic groups. They stated that the prevalence of the recessive and dominant autosomal forms of EPP were 4% and 95%, respectively. In 97.9% of dominant cases, the IVS3-48C allele was coinherited with the deleterious mutation in trans. Other authors have described this inheritance pattern as 'pseudodominant' (Morais et al., 2011).


Molecular Genetics

In a patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria, Lamoril et al. (1991) found compound heterozygosity for 2 different mutations in the FECH gene (612386.0001-612386.0002).

Henriksson et al. (1996) found a novel mutation in each of 4 Finnish erythropoietic protoporphyria families: 2 deletions and 2 point mutations. All 4 mutations resulted in a decreased steady-state level of the allelic transcript, since none of the mutations could be demonstrated by direct sequencing of the amplified cDNAs synthesized from total RNA extracted from the patients' lymphoblast cell lines. Henriksson et al. (1996) commented that, because the assays of ferrochelatase activity and erythrocyte protoporphyrin identified asymptomatic patients poorly, the DNA-based demonstration of a mutation is the only reliable way to screen individuals for the disease-associated mutation.

Rufenacht et al. (1998) conducted a systematic mutation analysis of the FECH gene, following a procedure that combines the exon-by-exon denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis screening of FECH genomic DNA and direct sequencing. They characterized 20 different mutations, 15 of which were described for the first time, in 26 of 29 EPP patients of Swiss and French origin. All the EPP patients, including those with liver complications, were heterozygous for the mutations identified in the FECH gene. The deleterious effect of all missense mutations was assessed by bacterial expression of the respective FECH cDNAs generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutations leading to a null allele were a common feature among 3 EPP pedigrees with liver complications.

Bloomer et al. (1998) focused on the gene mutations responsible for protoporphyria in patients requiring liver transplantation, i.e., those with the most severe phenotype. Mutations of the FECH gene were examined in 8 unrelated patients. RNA was prepared from liver and/or lymphoblasts, and specific reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reactions were amplified and FECH cDNAs sequenced. Products shorter than normal resulted from an exon 3 deletion in 3 patients (612386.0008 and 612386.0009), exon 10 deletion in 2 (612386.0010 and 612386.0011), exon 2 deletion in 1 (612386.0012), and deletion of 5 nucleotides in exon 5 in 1 (612386.0013). Sequence of normal-sized products revealed no other mutations. Western blot showed a reduced quantity of normal-sized FECH protein in protoporphyria liver compared to normal liver. Liver FECH activity was reduced more than could be explained by the decrease in FECH protein. The gene mutations found in the most severe phenotype of protoporphyria shared the property of causing a major structural alteration in the FECH protein. Bloomer et al. (1998) suggested that the liver probably contributes to the overproduction of protoporphyrin that results in its own damage, and that the overproduction may increase as liver damage progresses.

Gouya et al. (2002) showed that the mechanism for the low expression of FECH is the IVS3-48T-C transition (612386.0015). The presence of a C at position IVS3-48 was shown to cause 40% aberrantly spliced mRNA, compared with only 20% for the T allele. The reduced level of FECH was due to degradation of the aberrantly-spliced mRNA by the mechanism of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. The C allele was present in 11% of French control individuals, and FECH activity in lymphocytes was significantly higher in individuals who were homozygous for T at the IVS3-48 position, compared with individuals who were heterozygous (C/T). Individuals who were homozygous for C showed the lowest FECH activity.

Wiman et al. (2003) were among the first to evaluate the FECH mutations and the low-expression allele in their 26 apparently unrelated Swedish families with EPP. They found that all individuals carrying a mutated allele and IVS3-48C in trans to each other were affected by overt EPP.

In a cross-sectional study of 223 EPP patients in the U.K., Holme et al. (2006) identified 6 EPP patients with palmar keratoderma; Holme et al. (2009) studied those 6 and 3 more such EPP patients and found that they represented a subtype of EPP characterized by seasonal palmar keratoderma, relatively low erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentrations, and recessive inheritance. None had evidence of liver dysfunction; 4 patients had neurologic abnormalities. The patients were compound heterozygous or homozygous for 9 different FECH mutations; prokaryotic expression predicted that FECH activities were 2.7% to 25% of normal (mean, 10.6%). Neither mutation type nor FECH activity provided an explanation for the unusual phenotype. Holme et al. (2009) concluded that palmar keratoderma is a clinical indicator of recessive EPP and represents a new subtype of EPP occurring in 38% of reported recessive EPP families, and suggested that patients with this phenotype may carry a lower risk of liver disease than other patients with recessive EPP.

Of 11 unrelated Spanish patients with EPP, Herrero et al. (2007) found that 10 were compound heterozygous for the low-expression IVS3-48C allele in trans with another mutation in FECH, and 1 was homozygous for a novel A185T missense mutation (612386.0016).


Population Genetics

Morais et al. (2011) stated that EPP has been reported worldwide, with a prevalence between 1 in 75,000 and 1 in 200,000.

Gouya et al. (2006) found that the frequency of the IVS3-48C allele (612386.0015) differed widely in the Japanese (43%), southeast Asian (31%), white French (11%), north African (2.7%), and black west African (less than 1%) populations. These differences could be related to the prevalence of EPP in these populations and may account for the absence of EPP in black subjects. Herrero et al. (2007) found that the frequency of the IVS3-48C allele among 180 nonporphyric Spanish individuals was 5.2%.

Gouya et al. (2006) found that the phylogenetic origin of the IVS3-48C haplotypes strongly suggested that the IVS3-48C allele arose from a single recent mutational event. Estimation of the age of the IVS3-48C allele from haplotype data in white and Asian populations yielded an estimated age 3 to 4 times younger in the Japanese than in the white population, and this difference may be attributable to differing demographic histories or to positive selection for the IVS3-48C allele in the Asian population. Haplotype analysis suggested that the mutation occurred after the population had moved out of Africa.


Animal Model

In a mutagenesis experiment using ethylnitrosourea in mice, Tutois et al. (1991) recovered a viable autosomal recessive mutation (named fch, or ferrochelatase deficiency). Homozygotes (fch/fch) displayed hemolytic anemia, photosensitivity, cholestasis, and severe hepatic dysfunction. Protoporphyrin was found at high concentration in red cells, serum, and liver. Ferrochelatase activity in various tissues was 2.7 to 6.3% of normal. Heterozygotes were not anemic and had normal liver function. They were not sensitive to light exposure and ferrochelatase activity was about 50% of normal. Southern blot analysis using a ferrochelatase cDNA probe showed no gross deletion or rearrangement of the gene. Linkage studies failed to reveal the location of the gene. Boulechfar et al. (1993) demonstrated that the molecular defect in this mutant mouse consists of a T-to-A transversion at nucleotide 293 of the Fech cDNA, leading to a methionine-to-lysine substitution at position 98 in the protein (mutation M98K).

Bloomer et al. (1987) concluded that protoporphyria in cattle was probably the result of point mutation that causes a minor change in the structure of the ferrochelatase enzyme.


History

From an analysis of the findings in the 91 families, Went and Klasen (1984) advanced the hypothesis of a 3-allele system. Patients with EPP were hypothesized to be F+/F-; the fluorocyte-positive parent, they suggested, had a genotype of f/F+ and the fluorocyte-negative parent, f/F-. On this hypothesis, 6 genotypes can occur. The f/f genotype is normal. No indication was obtained as to the phenotype associated with F-/F-. In 1 instance, both spouses had fluorocytes. They had 13 children; none was affected and 11 had fluorocytes. Thus, the F+/F+ genotype may not lead to EPP.


REFERENCES

  1. Balwani, M., Bonkovsky, H. L., Levy, C., Anderson, K. E., Bissell, D. M., Parker, C., Takahashi, F., Desnick, R. J., Belongie, K., Endeavor investigators. dersimelagon in erythropoietic protoporphyrias. New Eng. J. Med. 388: 1376-1385, 2023. [PubMed: 37043653, related citations] [Full Text]

  2. Bloomer, J., Bruzzone, C., Zhu, L., Scarlett, Y., Magness, S., Brenner, D. Molecular defects in ferrochelatase in patients with protoporphyria requiring liver transplantation. J. Clin. Invest. 102: 107-114, 1998. [PubMed: 9649563, related citations] [Full Text]

  3. Bloomer, J. R., Hill, H. D., Morton, K. O., Anderson-Burnham, L. A., Straka, J. G. The enzyme defect in bovine protoporphyria: studies with purified ferrochelatase. J. Biol. Chem. 262: 667-671, 1987. [PubMed: 3805002, related citations]

  4. Bloomer, J. R., Phillips, M. J., Davidson, D. L., Klatskin, G. Hepatic disease in erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Med. 58: 869-882, 1975. [PubMed: 1138541, related citations] [Full Text]

  5. Bloomer, J. R. Pathogenesis and therapy of liver disease in protoporphyria. Yale J. Biol. Med. 52: 39-48, 1979. [PubMed: 452621, related citations]

  6. Bloomer, J. R. Characterization of deficient heme synthase activity in protoporphyria with cultured skin fibroblasts. J. Clin. Invest. 65: 321-328, 1980. [PubMed: 7356682, related citations] [Full Text]

  7. Bonkovsky, H. L., Schned, A. R. Fatal liver failure in protoporphyria: synergism between ethanol excess and the genetic defect. Gastroenterology 90: 191-201, 1986. [PubMed: 3940245, related citations]

  8. Bonkowsky, H. L., Bloomer, J. R., Ebert, P. S., Mahoney, M. J. Heme synthetase deficiency in human protoporphyria: demonstration of the defect in liver and cultured skin fibroblasts. J. Clin. Invest. 56: 1139-1148, 1975. [PubMed: 1184741, related citations] [Full Text]

  9. Boulechfar, S., Lamoril, J., Montagutelli, X., Guenet, J.-L., Deybach, J.-C., Nordmann, Y., Dailey, H., Grandchamp, B., de Verneuil, H. Ferrochelatase structural mutant (Fech-m1Pas) in the house mouse. Genomics 16: 645-648, 1993. [PubMed: 8325637, related citations] [Full Text]

  10. Corbett, M. F., Herxheimer, A., Magnus, I. A., Ramsay, C. A., Kobza-Black, A. The long-term treatment with beta-carotene in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a controlled trial. Brit. J. Derm. 97: 655-662, 1977. [PubMed: 341955, related citations] [Full Text]

  11. Cripps, D. J., Gilbert, L. A., Goldfarb, S. S. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: juvenile protoporphyrin hepatopathy, cirrhosis and death. J. Pediat. 91: 744-748, 1977. [PubMed: 911406, related citations] [Full Text]

  12. DeLeo, V. A., Poh-Fitzpatrick, M., Mathews-Roth, M. M., Harber, L. C. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: 10 years experience. Am. J. Med. 60: 8-22, 1976. [PubMed: 1251847, related citations] [Full Text]

  13. Deybach, J. C., Da Silva, V., Pasquier, Y., Nordmann, Y. Ferrochelatase in human erythropoietic protoporphyria: the first case of a homozygous form of the enzyme deficiency. In: Nordmann, Y.: Porphyrins and Porphyrias. Paris: John Libbey (pub.) 1986. Pp. 163-173.

  14. Donaldson, E. M., Donaldson, A. D., Rimington, C. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a family study. Brit. Med. J. 1: 659-663, 1967. [PubMed: 6019665, related citations] [Full Text]

  15. Fallon, J. D., Kvedar, J. C., Margolis, R. J., Pathak, M. A. Erythropoietic protoporphyria presenting in adulthood. (Letter) Arch. Derm. 125: 1286-1287, 1989. [PubMed: 2774610, related citations]

  16. Gouya, L., Deybach, J. C., Lamoril, J., Da Silva, V., Beaumont, C., Grandchamp, B., Nordmann, Y. Modulation of the phenotype in dominant erythropoietic protoporphyria by a low expression of the normal ferrochelatase allele. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 58: 292-299, 1996. [PubMed: 8571955, related citations]

  17. Gouya, L., Martin-Schmitt, C., Robreau, A.-M., Austerlitz, F., Da Silva, V., Brun, P., Simonin, S., Lyoumi, S., Grandchamp, B., Beaumont, C., Puy, H., Deybach, J.-C. Contribution of a common single-nucleotide polymorphism to the genetic predisposition for erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 78: 2-14, 2006. [PubMed: 16385445, images, related citations] [Full Text]

  18. Gouya, L., Puy, H., Robreau, A.-M., Bourgeois, M., Lamoril, J., Da Silva, V., Grandchamp, B., Deybach, J.-C. The penetrance of dominant erythropoietic protoporphyria is modulated by expression of wildtype FECH. Nature Genet. 30: 27-28, 2002. [PubMed: 11753383, related citations] [Full Text]

  19. Gouya, L., Puy, H., Robreau, A.-M., Lyoumi, S., Lamoril, J., Da Silva, V., Grandchamp, B., Deybach, J.-C. Modulation of penetrance by the wild-type allele in dominantly inherited erythropoietic protoporphyria and acute hepatic porphyrias. Hum. Genet. 114: 256-262, 2004. [PubMed: 14669009, related citations] [Full Text]

  20. Haeger-Aronsen, B., Krook, G. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a study of known cases in Sweden. Acta Med. Scand. 445 (suppl.): 48-55, 1966.

  21. Haeger-Aronsen, B. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a new type of inborn error of metabolism. Am. J. Med. 35: 450-454, 1963. [PubMed: 14072370, related citations] [Full Text]

  22. Harms, J., Lautenschlager, S., Minder, C. E., Minder, E. I. An alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue in erythropoietic protoporphyria. (Letter) New Eng. J. Med. 360: 306-307, 2009. [PubMed: 19144952, related citations] [Full Text]

  23. Henderson, C. A., Jones, S., Elder, G., Ilchyshyn, A. Erythropoietic protoporphyria presenting in an adult. J. Roy. Soc. Med. 88: 476P-477P, 1995. [PubMed: 7562835, related citations]

  24. Henriksson, M., Timonen, K., Mustajoki, P., Pihlaja, H., Tenhunen, R., Peltonen, L., Kauppinen, R. Four novel mutations in the ferrochelatase gene among erythropoietic protoporphyria patients. J. Invest. Derm. 106: 346-350, 1996. [PubMed: 8601739, related citations] [Full Text]

  25. Herbert, A., Corbin, D., Williams, A., Thompson, D., Buckels, J., Elias, E. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: unusual skin and neurological problems after liver transplantation. Gastroenterology 100: 1753-1757, 1991. [PubMed: 2019380, related citations] [Full Text]

  26. Herrero, C., To-Figueras, J., Badenas, C., Mendez, M., Serrano, P., Enriquez-Salamanca, R., Lecha, M. Clinical, biochemical, and genetic study of 11 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria including one with homozygous disease. Arch. Derm. 143: 1125-1129, 2007. [PubMed: 17875872, related citations] [Full Text]

  27. Holme, S. A., Anstey, A. V., Finlay, A. Y., Elder, G. H., Badminton, M. N. Erythropoietic protoporphyria in the United Kingdom: clinical features and effect on quality of life. Brit. J. Derm. 155: 574-581, 2006. [PubMed: 16911284, related citations] [Full Text]

  28. Holme, S. A., Whatley, S. D., Roberts, A. G., Anstey, A. V., Elder, G. H., Ead, R. D., Stewart, M. F., Farr, P. M., Lewis, H. M., Davies, N., White, M. I., Ackroyd, R. S., Badminton, M. N. Seasonal palmar keratoderma in erythropoietic protoporphyria indicates autosomal recessive inheritance. J. Invest. Derm. 129: 599-605, 2009. [PubMed: 18787536, related citations] [Full Text]

  29. Hovding, G., Haavelsrud, O. I., Wad, N. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. Acta Derm. Venerol. 51: 383-386, 1971. [PubMed: 4109278, related citations]

  30. Lamoril, J., Boulechfar, S., de Verneuil, H., Grandchamp, B., Nordmann, Y., Deybach, J.-C. Human erythropoietic protoporphyria: two point mutations in the ferrochelatase gene. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 181: 594-599, 1991. [PubMed: 1755842, related citations] [Full Text]

  31. Lynch, P. J., Miedler, L. J. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: report of a family and a clinical review. Arch. Derm. 92: 351-356, 1965. [PubMed: 5835322, related citations] [Full Text]

  32. Magnus, I. A., Jarrett, A., Prankerd, T. A. J., Rimington, C. Erythropoietic porphyria: a new protoporphyria syndrome with solar urticaria due to protoporphyrinaemia. Lancet 278: 448-451, 1961. Note: Originally Volume II. [PubMed: 13765301, related citations] [Full Text]

  33. Mathews-Roth, M. M., Pathak, M. A., Fitzpatrick, T. B., Harber, L. C., Kass, E. H. Beta-carotene as a photoprotective agent in erythropoietic protoporphyria. New Eng. J. Med. 282: 1231-1234, 1970. [PubMed: 5442632, related citations] [Full Text]

  34. Meyer, U. A., Schmid, R. The porphyrias. In: Stanbury, J. B.; Wyngaarden, J. B.; Fredrickson, D. S. (eds.): The Metabolic Basis of Inherited Disease. (4th ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill (pub.) 1978. Pp. 1166-1220.

  35. Morais, P., Mota, A., Baudrier, T., Trigo, F., Oliveira, J. P., Cerqueira, R., Palmeiro, A., Tavares, P., Azevedo, F. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a family study and report of a novel mutation in the FECH gene. Europ. J. Derm. 21: 479-483, 2011. [PubMed: 21659066, related citations] [Full Text]

  36. Murphy, G. M., Hawk, J. L. M., Magnus, I. A. Late onset erythropoietic protoporphyria with unusual cutaneous features. Arch. Derm. 121: 1309-1312, 1985. [PubMed: 4037826, related citations]

  37. Norris, P. G., Nunn, A. V., Hawk, J. L. M., Cox, T. M. Genetic heterogeneity in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a study of the enzymatic defect in nine affected families. J. Invest. Derm. 95: 260-263, 1990. [PubMed: 2384686, related citations] [Full Text]

  38. Ohgari, Y., Sawamoto, M., Yamamoto, M., Kohno, H., Taketani, S. Ferrochelatase consisting of wild-type and mutated subunits from patients with a dominant-inherited disease, erythropoietic protoporphyria, is an active but unstable dimer. Hum. Molec. Genet. 14: 327-334, 2005. [PubMed: 15574461, related citations] [Full Text]

  39. Oustric, V., Manceau, H., Ducamp, S., Soaid, R., Karim, Z., Schmitt, C., Mirmiran, A., Peoc'h, K., Grandchamp, B., Beaumont, C., Lyoumi, S., Moreau-Gaudry, F., Guyonnet-Duperat, V., de Verneuil, H., Marie, J., Puy, H., Deybach, J.-C., Gouya, L. Antisense oligonucleotide-based therapy in human erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 94: 611-617, 2014. [PubMed: 24680888, images, related citations] [Full Text]

  40. Peterka, E. S., Fusaro, R. M., Runge, W. J., Jaffe, M. O., Watson, C. J. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: clinical and laboratory features in seven new cases. JAMA 193: 1036-1042, 1965. [PubMed: 14338805, related citations] [Full Text]

  41. Poh-Fitzpatrick, M. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. Int. J. Derm. 17: 359-369, 1978. [PubMed: 350784, related citations] [Full Text]

  42. Reed, W. B., Wuepper, K. D., Epstein, J. H., Redeker, A., Simonson, R. J., McKusick, V. A. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. JAMA 214: 1060-1066, 1970. [PubMed: 5536249, related citations] [Full Text]

  43. Romeo, G. Enzymatic defects of hereditary porphyrias. Hum. Genet. 39: 261-276, 1977. [PubMed: 340378, related citations] [Full Text]

  44. Romslo, I., Gadeholt, H. G., Hovding, G. Erythropoietic protoporphyria terminating in liver failure. Arch. Derm. 118: 668-671, 1982. [PubMed: 7114870, related citations]

  45. Rufenacht, U. B., Gouya, L., Schneider-Yin, X., Puy, H., Schafer, B. W., Aquaron, R., Nordmann, Y., Minder, E. I., Deybach, J. C. Systematic analysis of molecular defects in the ferrochelatase gene from patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 62: 1341-1352, 1998. [PubMed: 9585598, related citations] [Full Text]

  46. Sarkany, R. P. E., Alexander, G. J. M. A., Cox, T. M. Recessive inheritance of erythropoietic protoporphyria with liver failure. Lancet 343: 1394-1396, 1994. [PubMed: 7910885, related citations] [Full Text]

  47. Schneider-Yin, X., Gouya, L., Meier-Weinand, A., Deybach, J.-C., Minder, E. I. New insights into the pathogenesis of erythropoietic protoporphyria and their impact on patient care. Europ. J. Pediat. 159: 719-725, 2000. [PubMed: 11039124, related citations] [Full Text]

  48. Scholnick, P., Marver, H. S., Schmid, R. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: evidence for multiple sites of excess protoporphyrin formation. J. Clin. Invest. 50: 203-207, 1971. [PubMed: 5101296, related citations] [Full Text]

  49. Todd, D. J. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. Brit. J. Derm. 131: 751-766, 1994. [PubMed: 7857832, related citations] [Full Text]

  50. Tutois, S., Montagutelli, X., Da Silva, V., Jouault, H., Rouyer-Fessard, P., Leroy-Viard, K., Guenet, J.-L., Nordmann, Y., Beuzard, Y., Deybach, J.-C. Erythropoietic protoporphyria in the house mouse: a recessive inherited ferrochelatase deficiency with anemia, photosensitivity, and liver disease. J. Clin. Invest. 88: 1730-1736, 1991. [PubMed: 1939658, related citations] [Full Text]

  51. Went, L. N., Klasen, E. C. Genetic aspects of erythropoietic protoporphyria. Ann. Hum. Genet. 48: 105-117, 1984. [PubMed: 6742776, related citations] [Full Text]

  52. Wiman, A., Floderus, Y., Harper, P. Novel mutations and phenotypic effect of the splice site modulator IVS3-48C in nine Swedish families with erythropoietic protoporphyria. J. Hum. Genet. 48: 70-76, 2003. [PubMed: 12601550, related citations] [Full Text]


Ada Hamosh - updated : 01/24/2024
Ada Hamosh - updated : 6/9/2014
Carol A. Bocchini - updated : 8/26/2011
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 8/12/2009
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 1/21/2009
Carol A. Bocchini - updated : 11/6/2008
George E. Tiller - updated : 11/8/2007
Ada Hamosh - updated : 6/14/2007
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 12/29/2005
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 2/9/2004
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 3/7/2003
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 1/14/2002
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 2/15/2001
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 1/10/2001
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 9/3/1998
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 8/17/1998
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 6/23/1998
Creation Date:
Victor A. McKusick : 6/2/1986
alopez : 01/24/2024
alopez : 05/10/2019
carol : 06/19/2018
ckniffin : 06/18/2018
carol : 06/05/2018
carol : 11/16/2017
carol : 07/09/2016
alopez : 6/9/2014
alopez : 10/24/2011
terry : 9/1/2011
carol : 8/26/2011
carol : 8/26/2011
wwang : 9/2/2009
terry : 8/12/2009
terry : 6/3/2009
terry : 2/9/2009
wwang : 1/26/2009
ckniffin : 1/21/2009
carol : 11/7/2008
carol : 11/6/2008
wwang : 12/3/2007
terry : 11/8/2007
terry : 6/14/2007
alopez : 1/3/2006
terry : 12/29/2005
joanna : 3/17/2004
cwells : 2/18/2004
terry : 2/9/2004
cwells : 3/12/2003
terry : 3/7/2003
alopez : 1/16/2002
terry : 1/14/2002
cwells : 2/21/2001
terry : 2/15/2001
cwells : 1/17/2001
terry : 1/10/2001
terry : 6/9/1999
alopez : 9/14/1998
carol : 9/3/1998
carol : 8/18/1998
terry : 8/17/1998
carol : 7/9/1998
carol : 6/25/1998
terry : 6/23/1998
joanna : 2/9/1998
carol : 6/23/1997
jenny : 6/5/1997
terry : 6/4/1997
terry : 5/14/1997
terry : 1/17/1997
mark : 9/20/1996
terry : 9/11/1996
mark : 2/23/1996
terry : 2/19/1996
mark : 10/17/1995
mimadm : 2/25/1995
terry : 2/13/1995
davew : 8/19/1994
carol : 6/16/1994
jason : 6/14/1994

# 177000

PROTOPORPHYRIA, ERYTHROPOIETIC, 1; EPP1


Alternative titles; symbols

PROTOPORPHYRIA, ERYTHROPOIETIC; EPP
ERYTHROHEPATIC PROTOPORPHYRIA
HEME SYNTHETASE DEFICIENCY
FERROCHELATASE DEFICIENCY


SNOMEDCT: 276265003, 51022005;   ICD10CM: E80.0;   ORPHA: 79278;   DO: 13270;  


Phenotype-Gene Relationships

Location Phenotype Phenotype
MIM number
Inheritance Phenotype
mapping key
Gene/Locus Gene/Locus
MIM number
18q21.31 Protoporphyria, erythropoietic, 1 177000 Autosomal recessive 3 FECH 612386

TEXT

A number sign (#) is used with this entry because erythropoietic protoporphyria-1 (EPP1) is caused by compound heterozygous or homozygous mutation in the gene encoding ferrochelatase (FECH; 612386) on chromosome 18q21. The disorder most often results from inheritance of a null FECH allele in trans with a low-expression FECH mutation (612386.0015) prevalent in some populations, resembling autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance.


Description

Erythropoietic protoporphyria-1 is an inborn error of porphyrin metabolism caused by decreased activity of the enzyme ferrochelatase, the terminal enzyme of the heme biosynthetic pathway, which catalyzes the insertion of iron into protoporphyrin to form heme. EPP is characterized clinically by photosensitivity to visible light commencing in childhood, and biochemically by elevated red cell protoporphyrin levels (Todd, 1994).

Genetic Heterogeneity of Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

Also see X-linked erythropoietic protoporphyria (XLEPP; 300752), caused by mutation in the ALAS2 gene (301300) on chromosome Xp11, and EPP2 (618015), caused by mutation in the CLPX gene (615611) on chromosome 15q22.


Clinical Features

Light-sensitive dermatitis commencing in childhood, usually before 10 years of age, is the presenting finding in erythropoietic protoporphyria (Peterka et al., 1965; DeLeo et al., 1976). Patients experience itching and burning, and develop erythema even after brief exposure to bright light. Chronic skin changes sometimes occur (Poh-Fitzpatrick, 1978). Herbert et al. (1991) described a second-degree burn of the light-exposed abdominal wall resulting from exposure during liver transplantation. The patient also had severe polyneuropathy with quadriparesis. Although most cases of EPP present in childhood, Henderson et al. (1995) reported a patient who presented at the age of 33 years and cited even older ages at presentation, namely 62 years (Fallon et al., 1989) and 69 years (Murphy et al., 1985).

Whereas most EPP patients experience only a painful photosensitivity, a small number develop liver complications, including fatal liver damage, due to the accumulation of excessive amounts of protoporphyrin in the liver (Bloomer et al., 1975; Cripps et al., 1977; Bloomer, 1979). Gallstones pigmented with protoporphyrin have been reported. Both of the British patients of Magnus et al. (1961) and one of the patients of Haeger-Aronsen (1963) were operated on for gallstones at a relatively young age.


Biochemical Features

The essential biochemical abnormality in EPP is overproduction of protoporphyrin, as recognized in the original description by Magnus et al. (1961). The normal level of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP), of up to about 60 microg/dl red cells, may be increased in manifest cases to over 1,000 microg/dl. Fluorescence of a large proportion of red blood cells can also be observed by ultraviolet microscopy even when FEP is little or not increased. The excess porphyrin comes from both erythropoietic and hepatic tissue (Scholnick et al., 1971), leading to the suggestion of an alternative name, erythrohepatic porphyria.

Reduction in activity of ferrochelatase to 10 to 25% of normal levels has been demonstrated (Bonkowsky et al., 1975; Bloomer, 1980). This is unlike the dominantly inherited forms of porphyria (121300, 176000, 176100, 176200) in which 50% reduction of activity of the specific enzyme is observed (Romeo, 1977; Meyer and Schmid, 1978).

Went and Klasen (1984) found that the average hemoglobin concentration in EPP patients was 1.5 g/100 ml below that for their age- and sex-matched relatives.


Pathogenesis

Ohgari et al. (2005) coexpressed human ferrochelatase carrying His- and HA-tags in a tandem fashion in Escherichia coli and found that ferrochelatase formed a homodimer. Homodimers of missense-mutated enzyme were produced in small amounts and showed very low activity. Heterodimers with wildtype and missense-mutated enzyme had reduced, but significant, enzymatic activity without a marked change of Km values for substrates. Heat treatment led to a rapid inactivation of the heterodimeric mutants, indicating instability. Ohgari et al. (2005) hypothesized that instability of the heterodimer containing normal and mutated ferrochelatase, as well as the low production levels due to the structural defect of the mutant protein, causes the weak enzymatic activity of ferrochelatase in EPP patients.


Clinical Management

Management includes avoidance of sunlight; skin protection by parenteral administration of beta-carotene has given equivocal results (Mathews-Roth et al., 1970; Corbett et al., 1977; Poh-Fitzpatrick, 1978). Liver disease may be ameliorated by treatment with cholestyramine (Bloomer, 1979).

In 5 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria, Harms et al. (2009) reported favorable results after treatment with afamelanotide, an alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (see 176830) analog that induces epidermal melanin formation. Both tolerance to artificial light and melanin density increased significantly after 120 days.

The hypomorphic C allele of FECH uses a cryptic intron 3 acceptor site and results in reduction of FECH activity; when the C allele occurs with a severe FECH mutation on the other allele, overall FECH activity falls below a critical threshold and EPP results. Oustric et al. (2014) identified a sequence that, when targeted by an antisense oligonucleotide, prevented usage of the cryptic splice site between exons 3 and 4, resulting in the transcription of an unstable mRNA. In lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from symptomatic EPP subjects, transfection of this antisense oligonucleotide reduced the usage of the cryptic splice site and efficiently redirected the splicing of intron 3 toward the physiologic acceptor site, thereby increasing the amount of functional FECH mRNA. Oustric et al. (2014) found that administering the antisense oligonucleotide into developing human erythroblasts from an overtly EPP subject markedly increased production of wildtype FECH mRNA and reduced the accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) to a level similar to that measured in asymptomatic EPP subjects.

Balwani et al. (2023) performed a phase 2 clinical trial in 93 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria and 9 patients with X-linked protoporphyria (300752) aged 18 to 75 years who were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to placebo or dersimelagon 100 mg or 300 mg once daily for 16 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to 16 weeks in the time to first prodromal symptom associated with sunlight exposure. Daily sunlight exposure and symptoms were recorded in an electronic diary. Quality of life and safety were also assessed. Among enrollees, 90% completed the treatment period. There was a significant change in time to the first prodromal symptom compared with the placebo group for the 100 mg dersimelagon group (53.8 minutes, p = 0.008) and for the 300 gm dersimelagon group (62.5 minutes, p = 0.003). Quality of life improved in both treatment groups. The most common adverse events that occurred or worsened during treatment were nausea, freckles, headache, and skin hyperpigmentation.


Inheritance

EPP can be caused by compound heterozygous or homozygous mutation in the FECH gene, and is most often caused by coinheritance of a mutation in the FECH gene in trans with a low-expression IVS3-48C mutation that is prevalent in some populations (Herrero et al., 2007).

Early studies indicated autosomal dominant inheritance of EPP, but noted that some persons who are obligatory carriers and have lifelong elevation of protoporphyrin levels may never develop photosensitivity (Donaldson et al., 1967; Reed et al., 1970; Hovding et al., 1971). Three generations were affected in the family studied by Lynch and Miedler (1965). Haeger-Aronsen (1963) found 5 cases in 3 generations of a Swedish family. In an exhaustive study in the Netherlands, Went and Klasen (1984) discovered 200 patients in 91 families. In 46 of these families, only a single patient was discovered. The presence of an occasional fluorescent red blood cell combined with normal protoporphyrin levels was observed in half of the children and sibs of patients and in 1 of their parents. Thus, this trait appeared to be autosomal recessive. However, the segregation ratio in sibships with at least 1 patient with EPP was 22.2% or 29.6%, depending on the type of correction made for bias of ascertainment; consequently, Went and Klasen (1984) concluded that EPP is a recessive. Deybach et al. (1986) observed a homozygote for erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Norris et al. (1990) likewise suggested that the inheritance is not that of a simple autosomal dominant and that inheritance of more than one gene may be required for disease expression.

Gouya et al. (1996) contributed to the understanding of the unusual inheritance in EPP. They identified a deletion of exon 10 (612386.0008) in a proband with a classic presentation and in his clinically asymptomatic brother and father. The proband had a history of skin photosensitivity without liver failure and 25% residual enzyme activity in lymphocytes. The asymptomatic brother and father had 50% enzyme activity. The mother was clinically normal and her enzyme activity was within the low normal range (79% of control activity). Using an intragenic dimorphism, 1520C/T, Gouya et al. (1996) showed that the mother was heterozygous CT, and that she had given a different chromosome to her asymptomatic son than to her affected son. Gouya et al. (1996) quantitated the mRNAs transcribed from each FECH allele of the mother by a primer extension assay and by a ribonuclease protection assay. The data supported the hypothesis that in this family the EPP phenotype resulted from the coinheritance of a 'low-output' normal FECH allele (isoallele) and a mutant EX10DEL allele. The site of the mutation in the low-output allele was not determined until Gouya et al. (2002) identified an intronic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), IVS3-48T-C (612386.0015), that modulates the use of a constitutive aberrant acceptor splice site 63 bp upstream of the normal one. The aberrantly spliced mRNA is degraded by a nonsense-mediated decay mechanism (NMD), producing a decreased steady-state level of mRNA and the additional FECH enzyme deficiency necessary for EPP phenotypic expression. Thus, the incomplete penetrance of EPP was explained.

Gouya et al. (2006) stated that they knew of only 7 reported cases of autosomal recessive transmission of EPP. Most reports described the inheritance as autosomal dominant with incomplete penetrance. Gouya et al. (2006) studied a cohort of 173 white French EPP families and a group of 360 unrelated healthy subjects from 4 ethnic groups. They stated that the prevalence of the recessive and dominant autosomal forms of EPP were 4% and 95%, respectively. In 97.9% of dominant cases, the IVS3-48C allele was coinherited with the deleterious mutation in trans. Other authors have described this inheritance pattern as 'pseudodominant' (Morais et al., 2011).


Molecular Genetics

In a patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria, Lamoril et al. (1991) found compound heterozygosity for 2 different mutations in the FECH gene (612386.0001-612386.0002).

Henriksson et al. (1996) found a novel mutation in each of 4 Finnish erythropoietic protoporphyria families: 2 deletions and 2 point mutations. All 4 mutations resulted in a decreased steady-state level of the allelic transcript, since none of the mutations could be demonstrated by direct sequencing of the amplified cDNAs synthesized from total RNA extracted from the patients' lymphoblast cell lines. Henriksson et al. (1996) commented that, because the assays of ferrochelatase activity and erythrocyte protoporphyrin identified asymptomatic patients poorly, the DNA-based demonstration of a mutation is the only reliable way to screen individuals for the disease-associated mutation.

Rufenacht et al. (1998) conducted a systematic mutation analysis of the FECH gene, following a procedure that combines the exon-by-exon denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis screening of FECH genomic DNA and direct sequencing. They characterized 20 different mutations, 15 of which were described for the first time, in 26 of 29 EPP patients of Swiss and French origin. All the EPP patients, including those with liver complications, were heterozygous for the mutations identified in the FECH gene. The deleterious effect of all missense mutations was assessed by bacterial expression of the respective FECH cDNAs generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutations leading to a null allele were a common feature among 3 EPP pedigrees with liver complications.

Bloomer et al. (1998) focused on the gene mutations responsible for protoporphyria in patients requiring liver transplantation, i.e., those with the most severe phenotype. Mutations of the FECH gene were examined in 8 unrelated patients. RNA was prepared from liver and/or lymphoblasts, and specific reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reactions were amplified and FECH cDNAs sequenced. Products shorter than normal resulted from an exon 3 deletion in 3 patients (612386.0008 and 612386.0009), exon 10 deletion in 2 (612386.0010 and 612386.0011), exon 2 deletion in 1 (612386.0012), and deletion of 5 nucleotides in exon 5 in 1 (612386.0013). Sequence of normal-sized products revealed no other mutations. Western blot showed a reduced quantity of normal-sized FECH protein in protoporphyria liver compared to normal liver. Liver FECH activity was reduced more than could be explained by the decrease in FECH protein. The gene mutations found in the most severe phenotype of protoporphyria shared the property of causing a major structural alteration in the FECH protein. Bloomer et al. (1998) suggested that the liver probably contributes to the overproduction of protoporphyrin that results in its own damage, and that the overproduction may increase as liver damage progresses.

Gouya et al. (2002) showed that the mechanism for the low expression of FECH is the IVS3-48T-C transition (612386.0015). The presence of a C at position IVS3-48 was shown to cause 40% aberrantly spliced mRNA, compared with only 20% for the T allele. The reduced level of FECH was due to degradation of the aberrantly-spliced mRNA by the mechanism of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. The C allele was present in 11% of French control individuals, and FECH activity in lymphocytes was significantly higher in individuals who were homozygous for T at the IVS3-48 position, compared with individuals who were heterozygous (C/T). Individuals who were homozygous for C showed the lowest FECH activity.

Wiman et al. (2003) were among the first to evaluate the FECH mutations and the low-expression allele in their 26 apparently unrelated Swedish families with EPP. They found that all individuals carrying a mutated allele and IVS3-48C in trans to each other were affected by overt EPP.

In a cross-sectional study of 223 EPP patients in the U.K., Holme et al. (2006) identified 6 EPP patients with palmar keratoderma; Holme et al. (2009) studied those 6 and 3 more such EPP patients and found that they represented a subtype of EPP characterized by seasonal palmar keratoderma, relatively low erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentrations, and recessive inheritance. None had evidence of liver dysfunction; 4 patients had neurologic abnormalities. The patients were compound heterozygous or homozygous for 9 different FECH mutations; prokaryotic expression predicted that FECH activities were 2.7% to 25% of normal (mean, 10.6%). Neither mutation type nor FECH activity provided an explanation for the unusual phenotype. Holme et al. (2009) concluded that palmar keratoderma is a clinical indicator of recessive EPP and represents a new subtype of EPP occurring in 38% of reported recessive EPP families, and suggested that patients with this phenotype may carry a lower risk of liver disease than other patients with recessive EPP.

Of 11 unrelated Spanish patients with EPP, Herrero et al. (2007) found that 10 were compound heterozygous for the low-expression IVS3-48C allele in trans with another mutation in FECH, and 1 was homozygous for a novel A185T missense mutation (612386.0016).


Population Genetics

Morais et al. (2011) stated that EPP has been reported worldwide, with a prevalence between 1 in 75,000 and 1 in 200,000.

Gouya et al. (2006) found that the frequency of the IVS3-48C allele (612386.0015) differed widely in the Japanese (43%), southeast Asian (31%), white French (11%), north African (2.7%), and black west African (less than 1%) populations. These differences could be related to the prevalence of EPP in these populations and may account for the absence of EPP in black subjects. Herrero et al. (2007) found that the frequency of the IVS3-48C allele among 180 nonporphyric Spanish individuals was 5.2%.

Gouya et al. (2006) found that the phylogenetic origin of the IVS3-48C haplotypes strongly suggested that the IVS3-48C allele arose from a single recent mutational event. Estimation of the age of the IVS3-48C allele from haplotype data in white and Asian populations yielded an estimated age 3 to 4 times younger in the Japanese than in the white population, and this difference may be attributable to differing demographic histories or to positive selection for the IVS3-48C allele in the Asian population. Haplotype analysis suggested that the mutation occurred after the population had moved out of Africa.


Animal Model

In a mutagenesis experiment using ethylnitrosourea in mice, Tutois et al. (1991) recovered a viable autosomal recessive mutation (named fch, or ferrochelatase deficiency). Homozygotes (fch/fch) displayed hemolytic anemia, photosensitivity, cholestasis, and severe hepatic dysfunction. Protoporphyrin was found at high concentration in red cells, serum, and liver. Ferrochelatase activity in various tissues was 2.7 to 6.3% of normal. Heterozygotes were not anemic and had normal liver function. They were not sensitive to light exposure and ferrochelatase activity was about 50% of normal. Southern blot analysis using a ferrochelatase cDNA probe showed no gross deletion or rearrangement of the gene. Linkage studies failed to reveal the location of the gene. Boulechfar et al. (1993) demonstrated that the molecular defect in this mutant mouse consists of a T-to-A transversion at nucleotide 293 of the Fech cDNA, leading to a methionine-to-lysine substitution at position 98 in the protein (mutation M98K).

Bloomer et al. (1987) concluded that protoporphyria in cattle was probably the result of point mutation that causes a minor change in the structure of the ferrochelatase enzyme.


History

From an analysis of the findings in the 91 families, Went and Klasen (1984) advanced the hypothesis of a 3-allele system. Patients with EPP were hypothesized to be F+/F-; the fluorocyte-positive parent, they suggested, had a genotype of f/F+ and the fluorocyte-negative parent, f/F-. On this hypothesis, 6 genotypes can occur. The f/f genotype is normal. No indication was obtained as to the phenotype associated with F-/F-. In 1 instance, both spouses had fluorocytes. They had 13 children; none was affected and 11 had fluorocytes. Thus, the F+/F+ genotype may not lead to EPP.


See Also:

Bonkovsky and Schned (1986); Gouya et al. (2004); Haeger-Aronsen and Krook (1966); Romslo et al. (1982); Sarkany et al. (1994); Schneider-Yin et al. (2000)

REFERENCES

  1. Balwani, M., Bonkovsky, H. L., Levy, C., Anderson, K. E., Bissell, D. M., Parker, C., Takahashi, F., Desnick, R. J., Belongie, K., Endeavor investigators. dersimelagon in erythropoietic protoporphyrias. New Eng. J. Med. 388: 1376-1385, 2023. [PubMed: 37043653] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2208754]

  2. Bloomer, J., Bruzzone, C., Zhu, L., Scarlett, Y., Magness, S., Brenner, D. Molecular defects in ferrochelatase in patients with protoporphyria requiring liver transplantation. J. Clin. Invest. 102: 107-114, 1998. [PubMed: 9649563] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI1347]

  3. Bloomer, J. R., Hill, H. D., Morton, K. O., Anderson-Burnham, L. A., Straka, J. G. The enzyme defect in bovine protoporphyria: studies with purified ferrochelatase. J. Biol. Chem. 262: 667-671, 1987. [PubMed: 3805002]

  4. Bloomer, J. R., Phillips, M. J., Davidson, D. L., Klatskin, G. Hepatic disease in erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Med. 58: 869-882, 1975. [PubMed: 1138541] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(75)90644-0]

  5. Bloomer, J. R. Pathogenesis and therapy of liver disease in protoporphyria. Yale J. Biol. Med. 52: 39-48, 1979. [PubMed: 452621]

  6. Bloomer, J. R. Characterization of deficient heme synthase activity in protoporphyria with cultured skin fibroblasts. J. Clin. Invest. 65: 321-328, 1980. [PubMed: 7356682] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI109675]

  7. Bonkovsky, H. L., Schned, A. R. Fatal liver failure in protoporphyria: synergism between ethanol excess and the genetic defect. Gastroenterology 90: 191-201, 1986. [PubMed: 3940245]

  8. Bonkowsky, H. L., Bloomer, J. R., Ebert, P. S., Mahoney, M. J. Heme synthetase deficiency in human protoporphyria: demonstration of the defect in liver and cultured skin fibroblasts. J. Clin. Invest. 56: 1139-1148, 1975. [PubMed: 1184741] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI108189]

  9. Boulechfar, S., Lamoril, J., Montagutelli, X., Guenet, J.-L., Deybach, J.-C., Nordmann, Y., Dailey, H., Grandchamp, B., de Verneuil, H. Ferrochelatase structural mutant (Fech-m1Pas) in the house mouse. Genomics 16: 645-648, 1993. [PubMed: 8325637] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.1993.1242]

  10. Corbett, M. F., Herxheimer, A., Magnus, I. A., Ramsay, C. A., Kobza-Black, A. The long-term treatment with beta-carotene in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a controlled trial. Brit. J. Derm. 97: 655-662, 1977. [PubMed: 341955] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1977.tb14273.x]

  11. Cripps, D. J., Gilbert, L. A., Goldfarb, S. S. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: juvenile protoporphyrin hepatopathy, cirrhosis and death. J. Pediat. 91: 744-748, 1977. [PubMed: 911406] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(77)81027-5]

  12. DeLeo, V. A., Poh-Fitzpatrick, M., Mathews-Roth, M. M., Harber, L. C. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: 10 years experience. Am. J. Med. 60: 8-22, 1976. [PubMed: 1251847] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(76)90528-3]

  13. Deybach, J. C., Da Silva, V., Pasquier, Y., Nordmann, Y. Ferrochelatase in human erythropoietic protoporphyria: the first case of a homozygous form of the enzyme deficiency. In: Nordmann, Y.: Porphyrins and Porphyrias. Paris: John Libbey (pub.) 1986. Pp. 163-173.

  14. Donaldson, E. M., Donaldson, A. D., Rimington, C. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a family study. Brit. Med. J. 1: 659-663, 1967. [PubMed: 6019665] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.5541.659]

  15. Fallon, J. D., Kvedar, J. C., Margolis, R. J., Pathak, M. A. Erythropoietic protoporphyria presenting in adulthood. (Letter) Arch. Derm. 125: 1286-1287, 1989. [PubMed: 2774610]

  16. Gouya, L., Deybach, J. C., Lamoril, J., Da Silva, V., Beaumont, C., Grandchamp, B., Nordmann, Y. Modulation of the phenotype in dominant erythropoietic protoporphyria by a low expression of the normal ferrochelatase allele. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 58: 292-299, 1996. [PubMed: 8571955]

  17. Gouya, L., Martin-Schmitt, C., Robreau, A.-M., Austerlitz, F., Da Silva, V., Brun, P., Simonin, S., Lyoumi, S., Grandchamp, B., Beaumont, C., Puy, H., Deybach, J.-C. Contribution of a common single-nucleotide polymorphism to the genetic predisposition for erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 78: 2-14, 2006. [PubMed: 16385445] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1086/498620]

  18. Gouya, L., Puy, H., Robreau, A.-M., Bourgeois, M., Lamoril, J., Da Silva, V., Grandchamp, B., Deybach, J.-C. The penetrance of dominant erythropoietic protoporphyria is modulated by expression of wildtype FECH. Nature Genet. 30: 27-28, 2002. [PubMed: 11753383] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/ng809]

  19. Gouya, L., Puy, H., Robreau, A.-M., Lyoumi, S., Lamoril, J., Da Silva, V., Grandchamp, B., Deybach, J.-C. Modulation of penetrance by the wild-type allele in dominantly inherited erythropoietic protoporphyria and acute hepatic porphyrias. Hum. Genet. 114: 256-262, 2004. [PubMed: 14669009] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-003-1059-5]

  20. Haeger-Aronsen, B., Krook, G. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a study of known cases in Sweden. Acta Med. Scand. 445 (suppl.): 48-55, 1966.

  21. Haeger-Aronsen, B. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a new type of inborn error of metabolism. Am. J. Med. 35: 450-454, 1963. [PubMed: 14072370] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9343(63)90144-x]

  22. Harms, J., Lautenschlager, S., Minder, C. E., Minder, E. I. An alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone analogue in erythropoietic protoporphyria. (Letter) New Eng. J. Med. 360: 306-307, 2009. [PubMed: 19144952] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc0805682]

  23. Henderson, C. A., Jones, S., Elder, G., Ilchyshyn, A. Erythropoietic protoporphyria presenting in an adult. J. Roy. Soc. Med. 88: 476P-477P, 1995. [PubMed: 7562835]

  24. Henriksson, M., Timonen, K., Mustajoki, P., Pihlaja, H., Tenhunen, R., Peltonen, L., Kauppinen, R. Four novel mutations in the ferrochelatase gene among erythropoietic protoporphyria patients. J. Invest. Derm. 106: 346-350, 1996. [PubMed: 8601739] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12343020]

  25. Herbert, A., Corbin, D., Williams, A., Thompson, D., Buckels, J., Elias, E. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: unusual skin and neurological problems after liver transplantation. Gastroenterology 100: 1753-1757, 1991. [PubMed: 2019380] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-5085(91)90680-j]

  26. Herrero, C., To-Figueras, J., Badenas, C., Mendez, M., Serrano, P., Enriquez-Salamanca, R., Lecha, M. Clinical, biochemical, and genetic study of 11 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria including one with homozygous disease. Arch. Derm. 143: 1125-1129, 2007. [PubMed: 17875872] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.143.9.1125]

  27. Holme, S. A., Anstey, A. V., Finlay, A. Y., Elder, G. H., Badminton, M. N. Erythropoietic protoporphyria in the United Kingdom: clinical features and effect on quality of life. Brit. J. Derm. 155: 574-581, 2006. [PubMed: 16911284] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2006.07472.x]

  28. Holme, S. A., Whatley, S. D., Roberts, A. G., Anstey, A. V., Elder, G. H., Ead, R. D., Stewart, M. F., Farr, P. M., Lewis, H. M., Davies, N., White, M. I., Ackroyd, R. S., Badminton, M. N. Seasonal palmar keratoderma in erythropoietic protoporphyria indicates autosomal recessive inheritance. J. Invest. Derm. 129: 599-605, 2009. [PubMed: 18787536] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.2008.272]

  29. Hovding, G., Haavelsrud, O. I., Wad, N. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. Acta Derm. Venerol. 51: 383-386, 1971. [PubMed: 4109278]

  30. Lamoril, J., Boulechfar, S., de Verneuil, H., Grandchamp, B., Nordmann, Y., Deybach, J.-C. Human erythropoietic protoporphyria: two point mutations in the ferrochelatase gene. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 181: 594-599, 1991. [PubMed: 1755842] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-291x(91)91231-z]

  31. Lynch, P. J., Miedler, L. J. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: report of a family and a clinical review. Arch. Derm. 92: 351-356, 1965. [PubMed: 5835322] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.92.4.351]

  32. Magnus, I. A., Jarrett, A., Prankerd, T. A. J., Rimington, C. Erythropoietic porphyria: a new protoporphyria syndrome with solar urticaria due to protoporphyrinaemia. Lancet 278: 448-451, 1961. Note: Originally Volume II. [PubMed: 13765301] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(61)92427-8]

  33. Mathews-Roth, M. M., Pathak, M. A., Fitzpatrick, T. B., Harber, L. C., Kass, E. H. Beta-carotene as a photoprotective agent in erythropoietic protoporphyria. New Eng. J. Med. 282: 1231-1234, 1970. [PubMed: 5442632] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197005282822204]

  34. Meyer, U. A., Schmid, R. The porphyrias. In: Stanbury, J. B.; Wyngaarden, J. B.; Fredrickson, D. S. (eds.): The Metabolic Basis of Inherited Disease. (4th ed.) New York: McGraw-Hill (pub.) 1978. Pp. 1166-1220.

  35. Morais, P., Mota, A., Baudrier, T., Trigo, F., Oliveira, J. P., Cerqueira, R., Palmeiro, A., Tavares, P., Azevedo, F. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: a family study and report of a novel mutation in the FECH gene. Europ. J. Derm. 21: 479-483, 2011. [PubMed: 21659066] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2011.1361]

  36. Murphy, G. M., Hawk, J. L. M., Magnus, I. A. Late onset erythropoietic protoporphyria with unusual cutaneous features. Arch. Derm. 121: 1309-1312, 1985. [PubMed: 4037826]

  37. Norris, P. G., Nunn, A. V., Hawk, J. L. M., Cox, T. M. Genetic heterogeneity in erythropoietic protoporphyria: a study of the enzymatic defect in nine affected families. J. Invest. Derm. 95: 260-263, 1990. [PubMed: 2384686] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12484876]

  38. Ohgari, Y., Sawamoto, M., Yamamoto, M., Kohno, H., Taketani, S. Ferrochelatase consisting of wild-type and mutated subunits from patients with a dominant-inherited disease, erythropoietic protoporphyria, is an active but unstable dimer. Hum. Molec. Genet. 14: 327-334, 2005. [PubMed: 15574461] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddi029]

  39. Oustric, V., Manceau, H., Ducamp, S., Soaid, R., Karim, Z., Schmitt, C., Mirmiran, A., Peoc'h, K., Grandchamp, B., Beaumont, C., Lyoumi, S., Moreau-Gaudry, F., Guyonnet-Duperat, V., de Verneuil, H., Marie, J., Puy, H., Deybach, J.-C., Gouya, L. Antisense oligonucleotide-based therapy in human erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 94: 611-617, 2014. [PubMed: 24680888] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.02.010]

  40. Peterka, E. S., Fusaro, R. M., Runge, W. J., Jaffe, M. O., Watson, C. J. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: clinical and laboratory features in seven new cases. JAMA 193: 1036-1042, 1965. [PubMed: 14338805] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1965.03090120044011]

  41. Poh-Fitzpatrick, M. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. Int. J. Derm. 17: 359-369, 1978. [PubMed: 350784] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.1978.17.5.359]

  42. Reed, W. B., Wuepper, K. D., Epstein, J. H., Redeker, A., Simonson, R. J., McKusick, V. A. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. JAMA 214: 1060-1066, 1970. [PubMed: 5536249] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.214.6.1060]

  43. Romeo, G. Enzymatic defects of hereditary porphyrias. Hum. Genet. 39: 261-276, 1977. [PubMed: 340378] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00295419]

  44. Romslo, I., Gadeholt, H. G., Hovding, G. Erythropoietic protoporphyria terminating in liver failure. Arch. Derm. 118: 668-671, 1982. [PubMed: 7114870]

  45. Rufenacht, U. B., Gouya, L., Schneider-Yin, X., Puy, H., Schafer, B. W., Aquaron, R., Nordmann, Y., Minder, E. I., Deybach, J. C. Systematic analysis of molecular defects in the ferrochelatase gene from patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 62: 1341-1352, 1998. [PubMed: 9585598] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1086/301870]

  46. Sarkany, R. P. E., Alexander, G. J. M. A., Cox, T. M. Recessive inheritance of erythropoietic protoporphyria with liver failure. Lancet 343: 1394-1396, 1994. [PubMed: 7910885] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(94)92525-9]

  47. Schneider-Yin, X., Gouya, L., Meier-Weinand, A., Deybach, J.-C., Minder, E. I. New insights into the pathogenesis of erythropoietic protoporphyria and their impact on patient care. Europ. J. Pediat. 159: 719-725, 2000. [PubMed: 11039124] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004310000494]

  48. Scholnick, P., Marver, H. S., Schmid, R. Erythropoietic protoporphyria: evidence for multiple sites of excess protoporphyrin formation. J. Clin. Invest. 50: 203-207, 1971. [PubMed: 5101296] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI106474]

  49. Todd, D. J. Erythropoietic protoporphyria. Brit. J. Derm. 131: 751-766, 1994. [PubMed: 7857832] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1994.tb08577.x]

  50. Tutois, S., Montagutelli, X., Da Silva, V., Jouault, H., Rouyer-Fessard, P., Leroy-Viard, K., Guenet, J.-L., Nordmann, Y., Beuzard, Y., Deybach, J.-C. Erythropoietic protoporphyria in the house mouse: a recessive inherited ferrochelatase deficiency with anemia, photosensitivity, and liver disease. J. Clin. Invest. 88: 1730-1736, 1991. [PubMed: 1939658] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI115491]

  51. Went, L. N., Klasen, E. C. Genetic aspects of erythropoietic protoporphyria. Ann. Hum. Genet. 48: 105-117, 1984. [PubMed: 6742776] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-1809.1984.tb01006.x]

  52. Wiman, A., Floderus, Y., Harper, P. Novel mutations and phenotypic effect of the splice site modulator IVS3-48C in nine Swedish families with erythropoietic protoporphyria. J. Hum. Genet. 48: 70-76, 2003. [PubMed: 12601550] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100380300009]


Contributors:
Ada Hamosh - updated : 01/24/2024
Ada Hamosh - updated : 6/9/2014
Carol A. Bocchini - updated : 8/26/2011
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 8/12/2009
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 1/21/2009
Carol A. Bocchini - updated : 11/6/2008
George E. Tiller - updated : 11/8/2007
Ada Hamosh - updated : 6/14/2007
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 12/29/2005
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 2/9/2004
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 3/7/2003
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 1/14/2002
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 2/15/2001
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 1/10/2001
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 9/3/1998
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 8/17/1998
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 6/23/1998

Creation Date:
Victor A. McKusick : 6/2/1986

Edit History:
alopez : 01/24/2024
alopez : 05/10/2019
carol : 06/19/2018
ckniffin : 06/18/2018
carol : 06/05/2018
carol : 11/16/2017
carol : 07/09/2016
alopez : 6/9/2014
alopez : 10/24/2011
terry : 9/1/2011
carol : 8/26/2011
carol : 8/26/2011
wwang : 9/2/2009
terry : 8/12/2009
terry : 6/3/2009
terry : 2/9/2009
wwang : 1/26/2009
ckniffin : 1/21/2009
carol : 11/7/2008
carol : 11/6/2008
wwang : 12/3/2007
terry : 11/8/2007
terry : 6/14/2007
alopez : 1/3/2006
terry : 12/29/2005
joanna : 3/17/2004
cwells : 2/18/2004
terry : 2/9/2004
cwells : 3/12/2003
terry : 3/7/2003
alopez : 1/16/2002
terry : 1/14/2002
cwells : 2/21/2001
terry : 2/15/2001
cwells : 1/17/2001
terry : 1/10/2001
terry : 6/9/1999
alopez : 9/14/1998
carol : 9/3/1998
carol : 8/18/1998
terry : 8/17/1998
carol : 7/9/1998
carol : 6/25/1998
terry : 6/23/1998
joanna : 2/9/1998
carol : 6/23/1997
jenny : 6/5/1997
terry : 6/4/1997
terry : 5/14/1997
terry : 1/17/1997
mark : 9/20/1996
terry : 9/11/1996
mark : 2/23/1996
terry : 2/19/1996
mark : 10/17/1995
mimadm : 2/25/1995
terry : 2/13/1995
davew : 8/19/1994
carol : 6/16/1994
jason : 6/14/1994