porphyria /pôrfir″ē·ə/ [Gk, porphyros, purple] , a group of inherited disorders in which there is abnormally increased production of substances called porphyrins. Two major classifications of porphyria are erythropoietic porphyria, characterized by the production of large quantities of porphyrins in the blood-forming tissue of the bone marrow, and hepatic porphyria, in which large amounts of porphyrins are produced in the liver. Clinical signs common to both classifications of porphyria are photosensitivity, abdominal pain, and neuropathy. See also acute intermittent porphyria, uroporphyria.
