What are acute porphyrias?

Acute porphyrias are also known as hepatic porphyrias, because one cause of acute porphyrias is liver disease, such as alcoholic liver disease. They affect mainly the nervous system. Signs and symptoms include:

• abdominal pain, possibly with diarrhoea or constipation
• vomiting
• seizures
• muscle weakness
• mental changes such as hallucinations, anxiety, depression
• changes in how fast or how regularly the heart is beating
• photosensitivity in some acute porphyrias – this might give the form of an itchy, reddened rash

Treatment for acute porphyrias includes a high carbohydrate diet, and giving heme arginate early on during attacks – this can shorten the attack and make it less intense. It is also important that symptoms be controlled – painkillers can be given for the pain (which is usually very severe).

Photosensitivity Guide Index:

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• What is photosensitivity?
• What are some photosensitive dermatoses caused by drugs or other chemicals?
• What are phototoxic reactions?
• What are photoallergic reactions?
• What is photocontact dermatitis?
• What are genetic and metabolic metabolic photosensitive dermatoses?
• What is pellagra?
• Who gets pellagra?
• What are some signs and symptoms of pellagra?
• What are porphyrias?
• What are acute porphyrias?
• What are cutaneous porphyrias?
• What is xeroderma pigmentosum?
• What is Bloom syndrome?
• What is Cockayne syndrome?

• What are photoaggravated dermatoses?
• What is atopic eczema?
• What is psoriasis?
• What is lichen planus?
• What is lupus erythematosus?
• What is dermatomyositis?
• What is actinic folliculitis?
• What is disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis?
• What are acquired idiopathic photosensitive dermatoses?
• What is polymorphic light eruption?
• What is chronic actinic dermatitis?
• What is solar urticaria?
• What is actinic prurigo?
• What is hydroa vacciniforme?
• What is juvenile spring eruption?

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