STUDIES ON PORPHYRIA

Abstract

Porphyria is a constitutional state marked by the excretion of porphyrins, either in greater than physiologic amounts or of kinds not normally demonstrable. Clinically it presents two widely different pictures: the acute, with dynamic ileus and peripheral neuritis, and the congenital, with cutaneous manifestations. Since Linser¹in 1906 first recognized the repeated simultaneous occurrence of porphyria and hydroa aestivale, considerable attention has been accorded this association. The facts that hematoporphyrin was then thought to be the porphyrin excreted in this disease and that it was soon shown to have remarkable photosensitizing powers²seemed to offer a ready explanation of the coexistence of the two conditions. It has been only recently that doubts of the validity of the early explanation have drawn attention to the fact that other dermatoses may be found with porphyria. The present study concerns such an association. CHEMICAL CONSIDERATIONS Porphyrins are widely distributed,