(Put to medical use, drugs containing porphyrins can attack tumors and other ailments. Historians long hypothesized that his madness may have been due to an undiagnosed family history of porphyria. Denver, Joness. [2] Porphyria cutanea tarda is believed to be the most common type. [citation needed], The theory has been rejected by a few folklorists and researchers as not accurately describing the characteristics of the original werewolf and vampire legends or the disease, and as potentially stigmatizing people with porphyria.[56][57]. All Rights Reserved. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda occurs in the Cacausian population at a rate of 1 in 25,000. Alvin Ailey. For example, all fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) have a gene defect that gives them a form of CEP, yet they do not suffer any adverse consequences, for unknown reasons. In some cases, paraplegia can be improved by extensive physical therapy and stem cell treatments. They exist because the folks during the era of the Inquisition refer to patients with porphyria as "vampires". Graham Greene. [1] One type, porphyria cutanea tarda, may also be due to hemochromatosis (increased iron in the liver), hepatitis C, alcohol, or HIV/AIDS. 2 Whoopi Goldberg. However, those with the misfortune to be born to the purple involved in porphyria--a group of diseases that result from abnormal accumulations of red and purple pigments produced by the body, called porphyrins--receive far less than royal treatment. However, this can worsen cases of low blood sodium levels (hyponatraemia) and should be done with extreme caution as it can prove fatal. [37], Heme arginate (NormoSang) is used during crises but also in preventive treatment to avoid crises, one treatment every 10 days. Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria creates a greater than 90% deficiency in the needed enzyme. [40] Intestinal pseudo-obstruction, ileus, intussusception, hypoganglionosis, and encopresis in children have been associated with porphyrias. [2] Rarely, a liver transplant may be carried out. . {{https://porphyrianews.com/health-insights/hormonal-contraceptives-and-porphyria/[44]}} In 2019, givosiran was approved in the United States for the treatment of acute hepatic porphyria.[45][46]. Porphyria cutanea tarda affects people around the world and isn't limited to a particular region or country. Catherine Zeta-Jones. Thisa reference to the characteristic, Descendants of George III. He ruled Walachia, Romania, off and on from 1456-1462.. AIP is caused by low levels of porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD), an enzyme also often called hydroxymethylbilane synthase. Oddly enough, all of the above-mentioned conditions occur in some people, barring the blood-sucking part. Porphyria had tormented Mary Queen of Scots, who passed it on to her son, King James I of England. The Romans called the disease by various names including morbus caducus (the falling sickness), and it was widely believed at the time that its victims were touched by the gods. The King existed at Windsor Castle for the next ten years, neglected and unkempt, a blind and deaf octogenarian. - Quora The novel deals heavily with themes of gender and sexuality. The exact prevalence of porphyria is unknown, but it likely ranges from 1 in 500 to 1 in 50,000 people worldwide. Moran prescribed amphetamines for Churchill in later years for his depressive episodes and a barbituate from 1940 to help him sleep. From Michelangelos arthritis to Abraham Lincolns depression, learn the stories behind seven historical figures who may have suffered from undiagnosed physical ailments. A portrait of Samuel Johnson by Joshua Reynolds. [16] All samples to detect porphyrins must be handled properly. Luckily, most people with AIP have a latent form, and never develop any symptoms. George III's recurring bouts of illness resulted in withdrawal from society to recuperate out of the public eye at Kew Palace, near Richmond. 2. Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is one of the liver (hepatic) porphyrias. Porphyria is a group of inherited metabolic disorders, caused of bydifferent faulty genes. seventh edition. Hello I am from Pakistan. Signs and symptoms. The same is true for their siblings, and later in life siblings are overrepresented in professional leadership roles, especially in politics. This diagnosis is pervasive throughout the scientific and popular literature, and is often referred to as the 'Royal Malady.' Meanwhile, a 2005 analysis of hair samples found the even if King George did suffer from porphyria, his symptoms were likely exacerbated by arsenic poisoning from his doctor-prescribed medicines. Porphyria's Lover And My Last Duchess Comparison. Symptoms include burning blisters and swelling of the skin when exposed to the sun, along with severe. Erythropoietic Protoporphyria (EPP). Paraplegia is an impairment which causes paralysis in the lower limbs. James' physician kept detailed notes on his royal patient, which describe his urine as being 'purple as Alicante wine' - a sign of porphyria. This is typical of XLDPP and EPP. Stay up and fight." Phyllis Diller (November. This rare neurological condition often results in weakness of the facial muscle and temporary paralysis of the face. Mary's son James I and VI is also often cited as suffering from the condition. In AIP the most notable symptoms are neurological attacks, such as trances, seizures and hallucinations, which often persist over days or even weeks. One of the most common symptoms of people with acute porphyria is severe abdominal pain, which might also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. [citation needed] Demi Lovato. As it became apparent that George's illness was this time permanent, even Queen Charlotte, his once devoted wife, sadly ceased to visit him. After 2 months when my mother cut my nails, there was some water. Her daughter, Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen (born 19 May 1879) is also claimed to have suffered from the disease. This causes local skin damage. Anderson, Desnick, Bissell, Bloomer, Bonkovsky,, Bottomley, Dailey, Galbraith, Kappas, Kreimer-Birnbaum, Kushner, Lamon, Levere, Levine, Mathews-Roth, McDonaugh, Nichols, Peters, Sinclair, Pimstone, Pierach, Poh-Fitzpatrick, Sassa, Shedlofsky, Schmid, Sassa, Tishler, Tschudy, Watson,, Phillips and many others too numerous to name Recent medical tests performed on the remains of Charlotte and Feodora, who committed suicide at the age of 66 in 1945, have revealed that both probably suffered from porphyria. Pricing level. Browse 239 porphyria stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. When heme binds with. Among other descendants of George III claimed to have suffered from porphyria were his granddaughter, Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales, the only child of George IV and his first cousin, Caroline of Brunswick. 6. [4], The most severe episodes may involve neurological complications: typically motor neuropathy (severe dysfunction of the peripheral nerves that innervate muscle), which leads to muscle weakness and potentially to quadriplegia (paralysis of all four limbs) and central nervous system symptoms such as seizures and coma. It is actually believed that the legend of the vampire was created around this specific disorder. Stokvis described the clinical syndrome as "porphyria," and from then on more and more forms of the syndrome were discovered. Though Charlotte seemed at first to be recovering well from her horrendous ordeal, she complained that evening of severe stomach pains and began to vomit. On exposure to sunlight the leaves blister, and eventually wither and die. Another relatively common form is porphyria cutanea tardea, which presents a very different spectrum of symptoms. This is thought to be due to axonal nerve deterioration in affected areas of the nervous system and vagal nerve dysfunction. Ethnicity. [1][2][4] The attacks usually last for days to weeks. In 1985, biochemist David Dolphin's paper for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Porphyria, Vampires, and Werewolves: The Aetiology of European Metamorphosis Legends," gained widespread media coverage, popularizing the idea. General acute porphyria is more common in women and cutaneous porphyria is more common in men. [38], Pain is severe, frequently out of proportion to physical signs, and often requires the use of opiates to reduce it to tolerable levels. Each step is catalyzed by a separate enzyme. Weakness or paralysis, numbness, tingling, and muscle pain are other signs of porphyria. Most people that become paraplegics have sustained serious spinal cord injuries. The study was conducted among 214 professional actors and a similarly sized pool of non-acting American subjects by scientists at University College London. This is in case they develop severe symptoms, or in case of accidents where there is a potential for drug exposure, and as a result they are unable to explain their condition to healthcare professionals. Support Porphyria Research. Queen Victoria's III's 2 greats grandson Prince William of Gloucester, (eldest son of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, a son of King George V), a first cousin of the Queen, who died in an air crash in 1972 at the age of 31, was reliably diagnosed with variegate porphyria. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. There are several different types of porphyria that are known and all vary in severity. Porphyrias are classified in two ways, by symptoms and by pathophysiology. 9. However, oral contraceptives have also triggered photosensitivity and withdrawal of oral contraceptives has triggered attacks. The theory formed the basis of a long-running play by Alan Bennett, The Madness of George III, which was later adapted for a film starring Nigel Hawthorne in the title role. The authors demonstrated a single point mutation in the, Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 22:16, Learn how and when to remove this template message, aminolevulinic acid dehydratase deficiency porphyria, Aminolevulinate dehydratase deficiency porphyria, https://porphyrianews.com/health-insights/hormonal-contraceptives-and-porphyria/, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, American Association for the Advancement of Science, "Lead poisoning mimicking acute porphyria! Depression is part and parcel of the Acute Porphyrias. Mass General Porphyria Center. www scuola test verifica sulle regioni del nord italia. Portrait of George III of the United Kingdom. So do many of our most famous leaders, notably Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and General Patton. Porphyrias usually develop because of an inherited genetic mutation. 14. Anemia However, even if a mutated gene is inherited, it doesn't guarantee that someone will experience symptoms (this is called latent porphyria). "They washed my little leg in a small tub with walnut water and small hot . It's estimated that 1 out of 10,000 to 25,000 people has this condition. She also experienced bouts of abdominal pain, lameness, fits and episodes of mental disturbance since her teens. PCT is one of the most common types of porphyria. Porphyria - About the Disease - Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Browse by Disease About GARD Contact Us We recently launched the new GARD website and are still developing specific pages. Nikola Tesla was often mentally compromised, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart suffered from mood swings. [42], Depression often accompanies the disease and is best dealt with by treating the offending symptoms and if needed the judicious use of antidepressants. 5 In people with protoporphyria, bile carries extra porphyrins from the liver to the gallbladder, which may lead to gallstones that are made of porphyrins. Two distinct patterns of skin disease are seen in porphyria: The porphyrias are generally considered genetic in nature. It affects about 1 in 25,000 people in the UK. The Vampire Disease is the reason why vampires can be considered real. [34], Often, empirical treatment is required if the diagnostic suspicion of a porphyria is high since acute attacks can be fatal. Studies of the animals could yield clues that would be useful in fighting CEP. Some people might also experience chest, leg, or back pain. 1. Pain treatment with long-acting opioids, such as morphine, is often indicated, and, in cases where seizure or neuropathy is present, gabapentin is known to improve outcome. Although some types can be cured, most people who receive a diagnosis of this disorder will be managing it for the rest of their lives. In EPP there is excess production of protoporphyrin by developing red blood cells in the bone marrow. In each type, there is a lack of one of the enzymes which controls one of the steps in haem synthesis. It is usually an inherited disorder and both parents can pass along the abnormal gene. For other uses, see. [citation needed], There are eight enzymes in the heme biosynthetic pathway, four of whichthe first one and the last threeare in the mitochondria, while the other four are in the cytosol. They are not curative drugs but can shorten attacks and reduce the intensity of an attack. "Porphyria's Lover" is a poem by the British poet Robert Browning, first published in 1836. Samples must be protected from light and either refrigerated or preserved. [citation needed], The rarest is congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), otherwise known as Gunther's disease. 891,100 views made by Traveler. Among other descendants of George III theorized by the authors of, The condition is the name of the title character in the gothic poem ", The condition is heavily implied to be the cause of the symptoms suffered by the narrator in the gothic short story ", This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 22:16. 10. Likewise, people suffering from porphyria will feel constant abdominal pains, will have increased hair growth, bouts of vomits and tightened skin. "New Light on Medicine," by Nick Lane; Scientific American, January 2003. It is important to note that people who have one type of porphyria do not develop any of the other types. It is the only commercially available treatment in the United States. If any of these eight steps fails because of an inherited genetic mutation or an environmental toxin, then the whole assembly line gets jammed. 1 What Causes Porphyria? 6 Acute porphyria, whether symptomatic or not, carries an increased risk of hypertension, hepatocellular carcinoma, and chronic renal failure. Nausea can be severe; it may respond to phenothiazine drugs but is sometimes intractable. Clinical chemistry and Metabolic Medicine. Heme function plays a central role in cellular metabolism. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda occurs in the Cacausian population at a rate of 1 in 25,000. The royal porphyria is porphyria variegata, which has an incidence in the general population of 1 in 100,000. [1] Diagnosis is typically made by blood, urine, and stool tests. All porphyrias are generated by enzymes deficit of heme metabolism, leading to an aggregation of porphyrin or its precursors [delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphibilinogne (PBG)]. Vlad Dracul was born in Transylvania, Romania. His was most likely the first description of protoporphyria. I love to write and share science related Stuff Here on my Website. ", "Porphyria and vampirism: another myth in the making", "The "insanity" of King George 3d: a classic case of porphyria", "Porphyria in the royal houses of Stuart, Hanover, and Prussia. He experienced regular vomiting and temporary paralysis in addition to widespread nerve pain. He was reported to have had lucid moments when he agonized pitifully about what he had become. While Caesars symptomsdizziness, depression, seizureshave traditionally been ascribed to epilepsy, a more recent study from 2015 argued that he might have actually suffered from a string of Transient Ischemic Attacks, or mini-strokes. Nina Simone. mercury- or arsenic poisoning-induced porphyria, other changes in porphyrin profiles appear, most notably elevations of uroporphyrins I & III, coproporphyrins I & III, and pre-coproporphyrin. Treatment can be problematic: barbiturates especially must be avoided. Samples should be taken during an acute attack; otherwise a false negative result may occur. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. [citation needed], It is recommended that patients with a history of acute porphyria, and even genetic carriers, wear an alert bracelet or other identification at all times. Episodes of . Estrogen use by women. For this reason, these four porphyriasalong with two acute porphyrias, VP and HCP, that may also involve skin manifestationsare sometimes called cutaneous porphyrias. His urine was reported to have been blood red by his physicians. The treatment apparently cures the disease over a period of years. Only 6 cases of ALAD-deficiency porphyria (ADP) are documented. Frida Kahlo. Dreamstime is the world`s largest stock photography community. [49], Rates of all types of porphyria taken together have been estimated to be approximately one in 25,000 in the United States. , Anna Nicole Smith. One of the more common types of the disease is acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), which famously afflicted the unfortunate King George III of Britainthe mad king of Alan Bennetts play. Photosensitivity later. Taking a drug used to treat malaria hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) or, less often, chloroquine (Aralen) to absorb excess porphyrins and help your body get rid of them more quickly than usual. famous people with porphyria Author: Published on: toyota land cruiser hzj 73 technische daten June 1, 2022 Published in: nymphensittich hat gleichgewichtsstrungen When there is too much of this substance in the body, then there can be some significant health problems that follow. Narcissists seek, and some achieve, incredible fame because they desperately need the public adoration, hordes of fans, and obsequious entourages that go along with it. Muhammad Ali (1942 - 2016) American Boxer and civil rights campaigner. This accounts for the property of fluorescence typical of the porphyrins. None of these are associated with acute attacks; their primary manifestation is with skin disease. Porphyrias, a group of eight known blood disorders, affect the body's molecular machinery for making heme, which is a component of the oxygen-transporting protein, hemoglobin. [citation needed], The underlying mechanism was first described by Felix Hoppe-Seyler in 1871,[52] and acute porphyrias were described by the Dutch physician Barend Stokvis in 1889.[53][54]. [2], Treatment depends on the type of porphyria and the person's symptoms. Porphyria. Even in his insanity he never forgot his exalted status, although he ceased to shave and now had a long white beard, he always wore a purple dressing gown with his Garter star pinned to his chest. These eight celebrities and famous historical figures have all lived with bipolar disorder. Hemolytic anemia usually develops. He was buried alive after an accident left him in a deep coma that doctors couldn't differentiate from death. Porphyria cutanea tarda is the name of a song by the rock band AFI on their fourth album Black Sails in the Sunset, released on May 18, 1999. . From left to right: Alice, Arthur, Prince Albert, Albert Edward, Leopold, Louise, Queen Victoria with Beatrice, Alfred, Victoria, and Helena. There are also cases of porphyria that have been known to be triggered by environmental factors. He often . Only a medical provider can diagnose this condition, so if any unusual symptoms appear and do not go away, schedule an appointment right away. Variegate porphyria is most common in South America with an incidence rate that is as high as 3 in every 1,000 people. Two types of subcutaneous porphyria erythropoietic protoporphyria and x-linked protoporphyriaare a bit different and do not cause blisters at all. The blockage of the assembly line also means that the body cannot make enough heme to produce normal red blood cells. In 1816, the author of such beloved novels as Emma and Pride and Prejudice came down with a host of mysterious ailments including exhaustion, back pain, skin discoloration, bilious attacks and fever. Caryn Elaine Johnson, professionally known as Whoopi Goldberg, is a famous author, comedian, actress, and talk show host. If absolutely necessary, patients should use the medications with the shortest course in case of an attack. [citation needed] Porphyria cutanea tarda is the disease that both Dabney Pratt and Brother Rush suffer from in Virginia Hamilton 's children's novel Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush. In August 1968, Prince William was examined by Dr. Henry Bellringer, at the request of the his mother, Princess Alice of Gloucester. This means that substances that are made during the process leading up to haem synthesis (including porphyrins) are overproduced and can build up within the body and cause symptoms. ", The Drug Database for Acute Porphyria - comprehensive database on drug porphyrinogenicity, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Porphyria&oldid=1140390972. Russell Brand. William was found to be suffering from fever and cutaneous hepatic symptoms, beginning in December 1965 and lasting several months. Porphyria's Lover by Robert Browning. As such he also descended from King George III. The recent diagnosis comes from of a group of medical researchers who analyzed portraits of the Renaissance master from different points in his life. But at the age of six, the Mexican artist was stricken with polio. Tubman was known to go through spells and trance-like states, and one witness reported that she would drift off into a heavy sleep even when conversing, from which she will after a time arouse and resume the thread of her narrative where she left off. While her symptoms suggest she probably had narcolepsy, some have also suggested that she suffered from cataplexy, a condition that causes sudden muscle weakness and paralysis. Vampires' famed sun-aversion is likely connected to the symptoms of cutaneous porphyrias such as PCT. Butterworth Heinemann. It could be a decision that makes life a whole lot easier. Avoiding the triggers is the best proactive treatment. Treatment options are generally to reduce symptoms. He was mercifully released from his nightmare existence by death on 16th February 1820. 12 April 2012. [1] The types that affect the nervous system are also known as acute porphyria, as symptoms are rapid in onset and short in duration. There are at least eight types of porphyria, which vary substantially in their symptoms and severity. Extended licenses. Following a variable period of, Vesiculo-erosive skin disease. [28], Deficiency in the enzymes of the porphyrin pathway leads to insufficient production of heme. Historical victims of the worst, most disfiguring forms may have inspired tales of werewolves and vampires. The theory that King George III suffered from Variegate Porphyria was first put forward in 1966 by a British mother/son psychiatrist team, Ida Macalpine and Richard Hunter, citing the tell-tale symptom of purple urine as proof. Hodder Arnold. Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948) Leader of Indian independence movement. Porphyrias are a group of rare inherited blood disorders. George III's 2 greats granddaughter, Princess Victoria, Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, and her daughter Princess Charlotte of Prussia, (born 24 July 1860), was further suspected of suffering from the condition. [citation needed], Given the many presentations and the relatively low occurrence of porphyria, patients may initially be suspected to have other, unrelated conditions. [16], If all the porphyrin studies are negative, one must consider pseudoporphyria. But they have a dark side: when the wrong forms of them build up in the body, they cause a disease called porphyria. Some people with protoporphyria also develop liver damage and cirrhosis, and up to 5 percent of people with protoporphyria develop liver failure. Adelaide of Prussia (1891-1971), a descendant of George III's grandfather George II, was also confirmed by Mac Alpine and Hunter as a further royal porphyria sufferer by a study of her medical records conserved in the Thuringian State Archives in Meningen. Porphyrias are a group of eight NMDs causing intermittent neuro-visceral and cutaneous attacks, concomitant or isolated. Most seizure medications exacerbate this condition. Avoiding alcohol, smoking, and having excess iron are all beneficial. Heme, a component of the oxygen transporter hemoglobin, is made in a sequence of eight steps, as in a factory assembly line. According to one historian, James suffered from itchy skin, gout and abdominal pain. Download Porphyria stock photos. Vector illustration for medical. On November 24th, 2015, I took my initial trip to the Emergency Room. It is assumed Mary inherited the disorder from her father, James V of Scotland. 1. He experienced regular vomiting and temporary paralysis in addition to widespread nerve pain. 16. Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common type of porphyria and can be acquired, which means that other factors than the inherited gene can cause this, says the NIH. Even today, managing the disease can be challenging. Knowledge awaits. [1] Porphyrias may also be classified by whether the liver or bone marrow is affected. Part-time work or a job with a flexible schedule are good options. Later, Nancy Garden argued for a connection between porphyria and the vampire belief in her 1973 book, Vampires. Famous British People. She later developed a pain in her chest, before going into convulsions. Porphyria has since become the most popular explanation for the Kings madness, but in recent years the theory has been criticized by scholars who argue that bi-polar disorder or some other mental illness is the more likely candidate. 4 However, more recent studies have suggested that acute crises are rarely fatal. In others, it is only partial, permitting limited heme synthesis. Population Estimate: Fewer than 1,000 people in the U.S. have this disease. Russell Brand is a British comedian, actor, and activist. Pain should be treated as early as medically possible. [29], Porphyria is diagnosed through biochemical analysis of blood, urine, and stool. "An Encyclopaedia of Obscure Medicine". Porphyria is a disorder that occurs when there is a build-up of the chemicals in the body that produce a substance called porphyrin. 15. What are the types of porphyria? Oscar Wilde (June 1954) 3. [5] The name porphyria is from the Greek , porphyra, meaning "purple", a reference to the color of the urine that may be present during an attack. He also lives with attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. The non-acute porphyrias are X-linked dominant protoporphyria (XLDPP), congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP), porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), and erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). At its worst, CEP causes appalling photomutilations from the light-activated porphyrins, including loss of facial features and fingers, scarring of the cornea and blindness. In 2016, at age 24, I was diagnosed with Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP). Diseasemaps 2023. People who have inherited porphyria from one or both parents have deficiencies in certain enzymes that help with normal hemoglobin functions. Fewer than 300 cases have been reported in the medical literature of Congenital Eyrthropoeitic Porphyria. Such drugs include:[24][25][26], In humans, porphyrins are the main precursors of heme, an essential constituent of hemoglobin, myoglobin, catalase, peroxidase, and P450 liver cytochromes. Bill Gates (1955 - ) American businessman, founder of Microsoft. (2012) Depression and Psychosis in Neurological Practice. The most notorious environmental episode happened in Turkey in the 1950s, when 4,000 people developed a form of porphyria after eating wheat seeds that had been sprayed with a fungicide, hexachlorobenzene. Surprisingly, even plants--which use the green porphyrin, chlorophyll, to absorb light energy--can suffer from a condition analogous to porphyria. The technique has been shown to be effective in cell culture, but there is still a long way to go before gene therapy for CEP can be used in clinical practice. See "New Light on Medicine," by Nick Lane; Scientific American, January 2003.). [2], Most types of porphyria are inherited from one or both of a person's parents and are due to a mutation in one of the genes that make heme. [2], The precise prevalence of porphyria is unclear, but it is estimated to affect between 1 and 100 per 50,000 people. Physiologically, porphyrias are classified as liver or erythropoietic based on the sites of accumulation of heme precursors, either in the liver or in the bone marrow and red blood cells. It seems likely that this disorder is the origin of the vampire myth. Maria I of Portugal in a c. 1790s portrait attributed to Giuseppe Troni or Thomas Hickey. Michael Phelps-ADHD. These include hemochromatosis and hepatitis C. Treatment of iron overload may be required. Erythropoietic . These heme-like substances theoretically inhibit ALA synthase and hence the accumulation of toxic precursors. This means that, in principle, it is possible to relieve the symptoms of porphyria by drinking blood--another possible link with the vampire stories. There are two general categories of porphyria: acute, which mainly affects the nervous system, and cutaneous, which mainly affects the skin. All other porphyrias are either skin- or nerve-predominant. Some types of porphyria have both nervous system symptoms and skin symptoms. National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) 1900 Crown Colony Drive Suite 310 Quincy, MA 02169 Phone: 617-249-7300 Other Locations: Danbury, CT office 55 Kenosia Avenue Danbury, CT 06810 Phone: 203-263-9938 Fax: 203-263-9938 Washington, DC Office 1779 Massachusetts Avenue Suite 500 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-588-5700