Updated: 1/31/2020

Heme Metabolism

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  • Heme sythesis
    • Functions
      • hemoglobin
      • cytochrome b4
      • P450
    • Location of synthesis
      • involves both the mitochondria and the cytosol
      • occurs in nearly every cell
        • occurs in RBC progenitor cells
          • CANNOT occur in RBCs because they lack mitochondria
    • Pathway
      • ALA synthase is rate limiting enzyme (see above)
    • Deficiencies in heme synthesis
      • hemin
        • occurs when Fe3+ is incorporated instead of Fe2+
      • porphyria
        • causes
          • symptoms due toxic accumulation of pathway intermediates
            • aminolevulinic acid (ALA) causes neurological symptoms
            • protoporphyrins cause photosensitivity
              • conjugated structure what absorbs light energy and forms free radicals
          • symptoms worsened by
            • sunlight
            • P450 inducing drugs
              • stimulate the heme synthesis pathway to ↑ production
              • ex.) barbiturates, alcohol
        • treatment
          • limit exposure to sun and P450 inducing substances
          • hemin
            • inhibits new heme production
        • types
          • porphyria cutanea tarda
            • deficiency in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase
            • AD
            • late onset (4th or 5th decade)
              • symptoms often noticed with alcohol consumption
            • presentation
              • photosensitivity
              • hyperpigmentation
                • body's attempt to protect the skin
              • dark red/brown colored urine
          • acute intermittent porphyria
            • deficiency in porphobilinogen deaminase
            • AD
            • late onset
            • presentation
              • NO photosensitivity
              • episodic psychological symptoms (paranoia, anxiety, depression)
              • vague abdominal pain
                • patients can present with a history of laparoscopies
              • dark red/brown colored urine
                • ALA and porphobilinogen (PBG) present in urine during symptoms
      • poisoning
        • lead
          • induced deficiency in ALA dehydratase and ferrochelatase
            • both enzymes are Zn2+ dependent metalloenzymes
            • Pb2+ replaces the Zn2+ at the active site
          • presentation
            • ↓ in IQ
            • microcytic anemia with coarse basophilic stippling
            • abdominal pain
            • ↑ in ALA without ↑ in PBG
              • differentiates from porphyrias
            • lead lines in bone and teeth xrays
            • nephrotoxicity
              • deposition in nuclei of proximal renal tubular cells
        • hexachlorobenzene
          • induced deficiency in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase
          • presentation
            • hypertrichosis (↑ body hair coverage)
          • found in (now banned in USA) pesticides
      • iron deficiency
        • iron incorporated in the final step
        • result is microcytic hypochromic anemia
        • see Trace metals topic
      • vitamin B6 deficiency
        • rate limiting enzyme (ALA synthase) requires
        • most commonly due to isoniazid therapy
        • see Vitamins topic
  • Degradation of Heme
    • Function
      • rid body of hemoglobin removed from degraded RBCs
    • Location of degradation
      • spleen
        • site of RBC destruction
      • liver
        • site of bilirubin conjugation
      • intestine
        • conversion by normal gut flora
    • Pathway
  • Bilirubin
    • Properties
      • insoluble
        • must travel in blood bound to albumin
      • conjugation
        • direct (conjugated)
          • glucuronate group added
            • soluble
        • indirect (unconjugated)
          • glucuronate group not yet added
            • insoluble
    • Modified forms
      • urobilinogen
        • gives urine yellow color
      • stercobilin
        • gives feces brown color
          • with a blocked bile duct no stercobilin in feces and it is clay colored

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(M1.BC.14.7) A young man with history of seizure disorder is seen in the ED with complaints of confusion and stomach pain. His seizures are currently being treated with phenytoin. After talking with the patient you examine a urine sample (Figure A). You suspect he has a deficit in which of the following enzymes?

QID: 100072
FIGURES:

Pyruvate dehydrogenase

10%

(11/114)

Phosphofructokinase

3%

(3/114)

Glucose-6-phosphatase

19%

(22/114)

Porphobilinogen deaminase

45%

(51/114)

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase

20%

(23/114)

M 2 E

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