[Acute abdominal pain caused by acute intermittent porphyria - case report and review of the literature].
We describe a case of acute intermittent porphyria in a woman who presented repeatedly with abdominal pain. Porphyrias are caused by decreased enzyme activity in the heme biosynthetic pathway leading to overproduction of heme precursors if demand increases. This can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, constipation, tachycardia and hypertension. Treatment includes removal of causative factors, administration of carbohydrates or hemin to reduce the production of heme precursors as well as symptomatic treatment.
Lyflaekningasvioi Landspitala, Reykjavik.
Brynhildur Tinna
BT
Birgisdottir
Hilmar
H
Asgeirsson
Steinunn
S
Arnardottir
Jon Johannes
JJ
Jonsson
Brynjar
B
Vidarsson
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006427:Hemin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017118:Porphyria, Acute Intermittent / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy
D002241:Carbohydrates; D006418:Heme; D006427:Hemin