[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.
Birgisdottir
Brynhildur Tinna
BT
Lyflaekningasvioi Landspitala, Reykjavik.
Asgeirsson
Hilmar
H
Arnardottir
Steinunn
S
Jonsson
Jon Johannes
JJ
Vidarsson
Brynjar
B
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