Airing weekdays at 7:30 A.M. on

Airing weekdays at 7:30 A.M. on
Share

Acute hepatic porphyria, or AHP, refers to a family of rare, genetic diseases characterized by potentially life-threatening attacks and, for some people, chronic pain and other debilitating symptoms that negatively impact everyday life.

Severe, unexplained abdominal pain is the most common symptom of AHP, and people may also experience nausea, vomiting, seizures, anxiety and depression, and pain in their limbs, back, or chest. Because AHP is so rare and its symptoms resemble those of more common conditions, misdiagnosis is common, which can lead to unnecessary treatments, surgeries, and hospital stays. In fact, people with AHP can wait up to 15 years for an accurate and confirmed diagnosis. Common misdiagnoses include depression, endometriosis, and fibromyalgia, as well as gastrointestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and appendicitis.

One of the most definitive techniques a doctor uses to help determine if a patient has AHP is a urine test, which includes analysis of PBG (porphobilinogen), ALA (aminolevulinic acid), and porphyrin levels. We met with Dr. Angelika Erwin, a porphyria expert and member of the Porphyrias Consortium, as well as Nicole, who shares her experience living with AHP and recounts her 12-year search for a diagnosis.

To learn more about AHP, speak with your doctor. You can also visit Alnylam’s www.PinpointAHP.com for educational information and resources.

Sponsored by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AS1-USA-00913

Best Places to Shop This Black Friday

Black Friday technically isn’t a holiday, but some would say it is their favorite! The one-day-a-year stores nationwide offer deals on big-ticket items like iPhones, TVs, Clothes, Jewelry, Toys, and much more. If you’re planning on going shopping and haven’t found any good deals yet, don’t panic! We’ve got you covered. Here are a few […]

Share
Credit: Jiuguang Wang Flickr

Star Wars fans had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get their hands on cinema history. Anthony Daniels who portrayed the iconic Star Wars droid C-3PO, sold his personal memorabilia collection. He nearly auctioned off 200 items ranging from props, costumes, and scripts. The big piece of the collection was the head of the beloved character C-3PO. […]

Share
Music Festivals Coming to South Florida Soon

Are you looking to attend a music festival in South Florida? With great weather year-round, it’s a never-ending party atmosphere and it comes with many music festivals geared toward every style of music. You can dance the night away in Miami, the Keys, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach this year. If this is right […]

Share

Comments

comments