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
Examples of porphyria in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More recent research argues against the porphyria hypothesis.
—
Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 10 May 2023
The doctors began to doubt that porphyria was behind the woman's symptoms.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2023
In the 1960s, psychiatrists Ida Macalpine and Richard Hunter argued in the British Medical Journal that George had acute porphyrias, a metabolic disorder that impacts the nervous system.
—Town & Country, 8 May 2023
But, the hospital was short on hemin—the standard treatment for porphyria—so she was transferred to Massachusetts General.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2023
In his article, Illis outlined congenital porphyria, which manifests in the form of photosensitivity, reddish teeth and psychosis, as the most convincing medical explanation for this mythological phenomenon.
—Tim Brinkhof, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2021
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
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Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 10 May 2023
The doctors began to doubt that porphyria was behind the woman's symptoms.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2023
In the 1960s, psychiatrists Ida Macalpine and Richard Hunter argued in the British Medical Journal that George had acute porphyrias, a metabolic disorder that impacts the nervous system.
—Town & Country, 8 May 2023
But, the hospital was short on hemin—the standard treatment for porphyria—so she was transferred to Massachusetts General.
—Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 28 Apr. 2023
In his article, Illis outlined congenital porphyria, which manifests in the form of photosensitivity, reddish teeth and psychosis, as the most convincing medical explanation for this mythological phenomenon.
—Tim Brinkhof, Discover Magazine, 25 Oct. 2021
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
Cite this Entry
“Porphyria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porphyria. Accessed 19 May. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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