Symptoms of porphyria can vary widely in severity, by type and among individuals. Some people with the gene mutations that cause porphyria never have any symptoms. Acute porphyrias Acute porphyrias include forms of the disease that typically cause nervous system symptoms, which appear quickly and can be severe. Symptoms may last days to weeks and usually improve slowly after the attack. Acute intermittent porphyria is the common form of acute porphyria. Signs and symptoms of acute porphyria may include:  Severe abdominal pain Pain in your chest, legs or back Constipation or diarrhea Nausea and vomiting Muscle pain, tingling, numbness, weakness or paralysis Red or brown urine Mental changes, such as anxiety, confusion, hallucinations, disorientation or paranoia Breathing problems Urination problems Rapid or irregular heartbeats you can feel (palpitations) High blood pressure Seizures  Cutaneous porphyrias Cutaneous porphyrias include forms of the disease that cause skin symptoms as a result of sensitivity to sunlight, but these forms don't usually affect your nervous system. Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common type of all the porphyrias. As a result of sun exposure, you may experience:  Sensitivity to the sun and sometimes artificial light, causing burning pain Sudden painful skin redness (erythema) and swelling (edema Blisters on exposed skin, usually the hands, arms and face Fragile thin skin with changes in skin color (pigment) Itching Excessive hair growth in affected areas Red or brown urine 
symptoms porphyria can vary widely severity  type individuals  people gene mutations cause porphyria symptoms  acute porphyrias acute porphyrias include forms disease typically cause nervous system symptoms  quickly can severe  symptoms may last days weeks improve slowly attack  acute intermittent porphyria common form acute porphyria  signs symptoms acute porphyria may include:  severe abdominal pain pain chest  legs back constipation diarrhea nausea vomiting muscle pain  tingling  numbness  weakness paralysis red brown urine mental changes  anxiety  confusion  hallucinations  disorientation paranoia breathing problems urination problems rapid irregular heartbeats can feel (palpitations) high blood pressure seizures  cutaneous porphyrias cutaneous porphyrias include forms disease cause skin symptoms result sensitivity sunlight  forms don't affect nervous system  porphyria cutanea tarda (pct) common type porphyrias  result sun exposure  may experience:  sensitivity sun artificial light  causing burning pain sudden painful skin redness (erythema) swelling (edema blisters exposed skin  hands  arms face fragile thin skin changes skin color (pigment) itching excessive hair growth affected areas red brown urine 
porphyria