porphyria

noun

por·phyr·ia pȯr-ˈfir-ē-ə

: any of several usually hereditary abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism characterized by excretion of excess porphyrins in the urine

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Garlic also is connected to patients with porphyria. —

Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022 People with chronic adrenal failure or who have inherited a rare disorder called porphyria are not good candidates. —

Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 6 Jan. 2023 After two centuries of largely deliberate and highly political misrepresentation, people on both sides of the Atlantic think that because George was a tyrant king and moreover mad with porphyria, Britain lost the American War of Independence. —

Andrew Roberts, Time, 9 Nov. 2021 The biotech has focused on treating rare genetic conditions such as acute hepatic porphyria, which can cause attacks of severe abdominal pain. —

BostonGlobe.com, 28 Oct. 2021 The blood disorder porphyria may have supported this belief, according to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. —

Kristen Rogers, CNN, 11 June 2021 The Cambridge biotech’s new drug is called givosiran and treats a condition called acute hepatic porphyria. —

BostonGlobe.com, 21 Nov. 2019 It's given to patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and the blood disorder porphyria cutanea tarda, the CDC said. —

Eliott C. Mclaughlin, CNN, 23 Mar. 2020 The medicine is intended to treat a rare genetic condition called acute hepatic porphyria that can cause attacks of severe abdominal pain. —

Kate Sheridan, STAT, 20 Nov. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'porphyria.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from International Scientific Vocabulary porphyrin

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of porphyria was in 1923

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Porphyria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porphyria. Accessed 23 Mar. 2023.

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Medical Definition

porphyria

noun

por·phyr·ia pȯr-ˈfir-ē-ə

: any of several usually hereditary abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism characterized by excretion of excess porphyrins in the urine and by extreme sensitivity to light