title: [Porphyrias and drugs].
abstract: The porphyrias are a metabolic disorders of heme biosynthesis characterized by the excessive production and excretion of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors. They are caused by defects in specific enzyme activities and classified into 7 subtypes. Some of them present with photosensitivity of skin and intermittent acute attacks related to nervous system disturbance. Especially in acute intermittent porphyria, patients have recurrent acute attacks of abdominal, neurologic, and psychiatric symptoms. Some precipitating factors; including drugs, hormonal factors, starvation, and stress; induces acute attacks. In this article, pathophysiology of the neurologic symptoms and relation between precipitating factors, especially focused in drugs, and acute attacks may be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Blood Transfusion Service, Gunma University.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karasawa
mesh_terms: D002220:Carbamazepine; D000075202:Contraindications; D004967:Estrogens; D006427:Hemin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008620:Meprobamate; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013217:Starvation; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D002220:Carbamazepine; D006427:Hemin; D008620:Meprobamate