Hemoglobin: Function & Diseases

The name of hemoglobin is derived from the Greek words for blood and sphere. Thus, hemoglobin is a spherical component of human blood. What is hemoglobin? Hemoglobin, as a component of human blood, is found in red blood cells (called erythrocytes) and is also known as red blood pigment. Hemoglobin owes this title to the … Hemoglobin: Function & Diseases

Porphyria

Synonyms Disturbance of heme synthesisPorphyria are a series of metabolic diseases in which the structure (synthesis) of a part of the transporter for oxygen in the blood (heme in hemoglobin) is disturbed. Introduction In the body, thousands of metabolic steps are carried out by enzymes that enable (catalyze) biochemical reactions. If, either due to hereditary … Porphyria

Symptoms | Porphyria

Symptoms The different porphyrias are mainly classified according to the type and location of symptoms into liver-associated (hepatic), red blood cell formation-related (erythropoietic), skin-associated (cutaneous), non-skin-associated (non-cutaneous), and acute and non-acute porphyrias. Many porphyrias are characterized by long inconspicuous phases and are sometimes only discovered in later decades of life. Mild forms often remain hidden … Symptoms | Porphyria

Therapy | Porphyria

Therapy No causal therapy currently exists for any type of porphyria. Within a relapse, the symptoms can be alleviated by the administration of hemin. This makes the body believe that there is a sufficient amount of heme, and thus leads to less of the unwanted (and responsible for the symptoms) precursors of heme being formed. … Therapy | Porphyria

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Treatment, Effects & Risks

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a magnetic resonance imaging technique used to image physiological changes in the body. It is based on the physical principles of nuclear magnetic resonance. In a narrower sense, the term is used in connection with the examination of activated brain areas. What is functional magnetic resonance imaging? Classical MRI … Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Treatment, Effects & Risks

Blood gas analysis

General In a blood gas analysis (short: BGA) the concentrations of certain gases in the blood are measured. These gases, which include oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2), have a certain partial pressure (pO2 and pCO2) in the blood, which should normally be stable and thus maintain the vitality of the organism. In addition, other … Blood gas analysis

Blood test

Introduction For the doctor it is part of the daily business, for the patient it can bring sweat to the brow: a blood test. It is often a part of the basic programme of medical activity. But why is a blood test carried out so often and on so many different occasions? What is hidden … Blood test