3. a Brief history
The word “porphyria” derives from the Greek root porphura
(π ) meaning “purple pigment”ορφύρα
There is some speculation as to whether or not this term came from the idea that
victims of porphyria would grow bruised and discolored from their disease, and
would often take on a violet hue
There is no set date as to when porphyria emerged into mankind.
Some of the most prominent cases were found in the late eighteenth
to early twentieth centuries
The doctor who first gave an accurate description to porphyria was
Dr. B. J. Stokvis
Hippocrates is cited as one of the very first to ever recognize porphyria
Congenital Erythropoietic Porphyria, or CEP, was identified in
1923. To date this is the most prevalent strain of porphyria
5. How it works
Primarily, porphyria affects the nervous system. This can cause
abdominal pain, hallucinations, depression, anxiety, and paranoia
Porphyria begins on a cellular level. porphyrins, the main
precursors of heme (the main ingredient in hemoglobin etc.)
Porphyria creates dysfunction in porphyrins, which leads to low
(and eventually virtually nonexistent) heme production
The build-up of dysfunctional porphyrins in the
bloodstream becomes toxic to the tissues in the body, which
causes the symptoms of porphyria
Porphyria is largely a blood-related disease, so as a result, in addition
to largely affecting the nervous system, the toxic porphyrins have
devastating effects on the victim’s liver, usually leading to hepatic
encephalopathy (acute liver failure)
9. A Cure?
At present, there is no cure for any strain of
porphyria. There are however, vaccinations
to prevent it, and treatments for those who
contract the disease
11. Mythology
Porphyria has been suggested as an
explanation for the origin of vampire and
werewolf legends, based upon certain
perceived similarities between the condition
and the folklore
