acute vs. non-acute porphyria

Last reviewed 03/2022

The acute porphyrias include:

  • acue intermittent porphyria
  • hereditary coproporphyria
  • variegate porphyria

Non-acute porphyrias include:

  • porphyria cutanea tarda
  • congenital porphyria
  • erythropoietic protoporphyria

The accumulation of delta-aminolevulinate and porphobilinogen in acute porphyrias results in the characteristic abdominal pain and neuropsychiatric features.

Accumulation of specific uro- and coproporphyrins in the abscence of porphobilinogen excess results in the features of non-acute porphyria, particularly photosensitivity.