Case Reports1 June 1949ACUTE PORPHYRIA: REPORT OF TWO CASES WITH ELECTRICAL STUDIES IN ONEGUSTAVUS A. PETERS, M.D., F.A.C.P.GUSTAVUS A. PETERS, M.D., F.A.C.P.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-30-6-1237 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptPorphyria, although an uncommon disease, has been well described by such investigators as Günther,1 Mason, Courville and Ziskind,2 Watson,3-5 Turner,6 Waldenström,7, 8 Dobriner and Rhodes,9 Nesbitt10 and Watkins,11 and Welcker.12 Oddly enough few medical textbooks discuss this interesting metabolic disease adequately or at all. However, as more cases are being reported the disease is becoming more generally known. Its early recognition would prevent unnecessary operative procedures and administration of contraindicated drugs, as well as lessen confusion with certain neuropsychiatric disorders.There are two main types of porphyria, acute and congenital. They are considered to be due to an inborn error...Bibliography1. GÜNTHER H: Die Hämatoporphyrie, Deutsch. Arch. f. klin. Med., 1911, cv, 89-146. Google Scholar2. MASONCOURVILLEZISKIND VRCE: The porphyrins in human disease, Medicine, 1933, xii, 355-439. CrossrefGoogle Scholar3. WATSON CJ: The porphyrins and their relation to disease: porphyria, In CHRISTIAN, H. A., and MACKENZIE, JAMES: Oxford medicine, 1938, Oxford University Press, New York, vol. 4, pt. 2, pp. 1-34. Google Scholar4. WATSON CJ: The porphyrins and diseases of the blood, In: Symposium on the blood and blood-forming organs, 1939, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, pp. 14-30. Google Scholar5. WATSON CJ: Porphyria, South. Med. Jr., 1943, xxxvi, 359-363. CrossrefGoogle Scholar6. TURNER WJ: Studies on porphyria; III. Acute idiopathic porphyria, Arch. Int. Med., 1938, lxi, 762-773. CrossrefGoogle Scholar7. WALDENSTRÖM J: Studien über Porphyrie, Acta med. Scandinav., 1937, Suppl. 82, pp. 1-254. Google Scholar8. WALDENSTRÖM J: Neurological symptoms caused by so-called acute porphyria, Acta psychiat. et neurol., 1939, xiv, 375-379. CrossrefGoogle Scholar9. DOBRINERRHOADS KCP: The porphyrins in health and disease, Physiol. Rev., 1940, xx, 416-468. CrossrefGoogle Scholar10. NESBITT S: Acute porphyria, Jr. Am. Med. Assoc., 1944, cxxiv, 286-294. CrossrefGoogle Scholar11. NESBITTWATKINS SCH: Acute porphyria, Am. Jr. Med. Sci., 1942, cciii, 74-83. CrossrefGoogle Scholar12. WELCKER ML: The porphyrins, New England Jr. Med., 1945, ccxxxii, 11-19. CrossrefGoogle Scholar13. POLLOCKGOLSETHARIEFF LJJGAJ: Use of discontinuity of strength duration curves in muscle in diagnosis of peripheral nerve lesions, Surg., Gynec. and Obst., 1944, lxxix, 133-141. Google Scholar14. POLLOCKGOLSETHARIEFFSHERMANSCHILLERTIGAY LJJGAJICMAEL: Electrodiagnosis by means of progressive currents of long duration; studies on cats with experimentally produced section of the sciatic nerves, Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat., 1944, li, 147-154. CrossrefGoogle Scholar15. GOLSETHFIZZELL JGJA: A constant current impulse stimulator, Arch. Phys. Med., 1947, xxviii, 154-158. Google Scholar16. DILLON EL: Physical therapy in the treatment of neurosurgical conditions: with special reference to new electrodiagnostic measures. Physiotherapy Rev., 1946, xxvi, 309-315. Google Scholar17. Case Records of the Massachusetts General Hospital: Case 33031, New England Jr. Med., 1947, ccxxxvi, 109-111. Google Scholar18. PALMER HW: A case of acute idiopathic hematoporphyria with acute ascending paralysis, Ann. Int. Med., 1940, xiii, 1500-1508. Google Scholar19. BAKERWATSON ABCJ: The central nervous system in porphyria, Jr. Neuropath. and Exper. Neurol., 1945, iv, 68-76. CrossrefGoogle Scholar20. DENNY-BROWNSCIARRA DD: Changes in the nervous system in acute porphyria, Brain, 1945, lxviii, 1-16. CrossrefGoogle Scholar21. RossBURY JJ: Quoted by Denny-Brown, D., and Sciarra, Daniel.20 Google Scholar22. GRÜNEWALD EA: Studien zur Pathogenese der Landryschen Paralyse, Jr. f. Psychol. u. Neurol., 1922-1923, xxix, 403-428. Google Scholar23. HALPERNCOPSEY RMHG: Acute idiopathic porphyria; report of a case, Med. Clin. North Am., 1946, xxx, 385-396. CrossrefGoogle Scholar24. DIFIORE JA: Acute muscular atrophy with porphyria; report of a case, Med. Clin. North Am., 1946, xxx, 397-400. CrossrefGoogle Scholar25. YEAGER CL: Polyneuritis; differentiation of infectious polyneuritis (Guillain-Barré syndrome) and the neuritis of porphyria, Minnesota Med., 1947, xxx, 166-173. Google Scholar26. HOAGLAND PI: Acute porphyria: report of two cases with neurologic manifestations, Proc. Staff. Meet., Mayo Clin., 1942, xvii, 273-278. Google Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Rochester, Minnesota*Received for publication February, 16, 1948.From the Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Michigan.At the time this paper was prepared, the author was a Major, M.C., A.U.S., at Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Michigan. He is now Consultant in Division of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byGUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH PORPHYRINURIA*RICHARD F. PINO, M.D.IntoxikationenProgesterone-induced porphyriaAcute intermittent porphyriaACUTE INTERMITTENT PORPHYRIA: A REPORT OF FIVE CASES AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE*MEYER MARKOVITZ, M.D.Die angeborenen Stoffwechselanomalien des MenschenACUTE PORPHYRIA: A CASE REPORT*GEORGE W. MELLINGER, M.D., CLARENCE C. PEARSON, M.D., F.A.C.P.Acute Porphyria 1 June 1949Volume 30, Issue 6Page: 1237-1248KeywordsDrug administrationDrugsMetabolic disordersPorphyriaSurgery ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 June 1949 PDF downloadLoading ...
IT is commonly assumed that growth of cutaneous hair, excluding that of the scalp and eyebrows, is a manifestation of anterior pituitary and gonadal function or of gonadal function only. Clinical evidence, especially that derived from the hirsutism which accompanies tumors of the suprarenal cortex makes one reluctant to accept this assumption. The case history which follows makes one even more skeptical. The patient had a normal feminine habitus, normally developed breasts and, after her menses had become well established, practically normal menstrual periods. It is highly probable, therefore, that ovarian and anterior pituitary functions were essentially normal.1 Nevertheless, there was almost complete absence of cutaneous hair except for that of the scalp and eyebrows. In view of the fact that the patient had Addison's disease, it seems very likely that in her case, at least, failure of growth of the ‘sexually conditioned’ hair was almost certainly the result of insufficiency of function of the suprarenal cortex.
The subject of anaphylaxis immediately brings to mind penicillin, and for good reasons. Still, any of a long list of diagnostic and therapeutic agents and foods can be the cause of this life-threatening event. Every physician and even some patients should be prepared to deal with this emergency. For some asthmatic patients, even taking aspirin can precipitate a severe attack of asthma. In particular, the combination of asthma and nasal polyps should raise suspicion of this type of aspirin allergy.
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