Acute Intermittent Porphyria Presented with Recurrent Abdominal Pain and Hypertension

Abstract

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare disorder characterized biochemically by the increased excretion of porphyrins and porphyrin precursors, including delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG). AIP has variable clinical manifestations, such as acute abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, constipation, peripheral neuropathy, seizures, tachycardia, and hypertension. A 16-year-old girl presented with recurrent abdominal pain, vomiting, hypertension, seizures, hypercholesterolemia, and red urine. AIP was confirmed by clinical features and increased 24-hour urine ALA and PBG. AIP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who have abdominal pain, hypertension, and seizures when the results of all other tests are normal. (Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 14: 81∼85)