This article reports the case of a 41 year old female with a history of acute intermittent porphyria who presented with exacerbation of a chronic psychotic illness. Though the evaluative studies for an acute porphyric episode were negative, psychological testing was consistent with an organic patchy cognitive decline. This finding is discussed in relation to the reported assymetric neuropathic lesions reported in porphyria.
References
1.
MasseyE.W.Neuropsychic manifestations of porphyria.J. Clin Psychiatry1980, 41: 208–213.
2.
IsselbacherK.J., AdamsR.D., BraunwaldE., PetersdorfR.G., WilsonJ.D. eds. Harrison's principles of internal medicine, ed. 9. New York: McGraw Hill Book Company1980: 494–500.
3.
GoldbergL., StinnettJ.Intermittent porphyria in schizophrenia.Pennsylvania Medicine1983; 86: 52–53.
4.
RothN.Psychiatric syndromes in porphyria.Int J Neuropsychiatry1968; 4: 32–44.
5.
PepplinkhuizenL., BlomW., BruinvelsJ., MolemanP.Schizophrenia-like psychosis caused by a metabolic disorder.Lancet1980; 1: 454–456.
6.
LitmanD., CorreiaM.L-Tryptophan: a common denominator of biochemical and neurological events of acute hepatic porphyria?Science1983; 222: 1031–1033.