Neuropathy in latent hereditary hepatic porphyria

Peripheral nerve conduction velocoties were measured in 20 patients with acute intermittent porphyria and five with variegate porphyria and in 25 controls matched for age and sex. None of the porphyric patients had acute symptoms on examination, and nine had never had symptoms. Compared with the controls, patients had a significantly slower conduction velocity of the slower motor fibres of the ulnar nerve (P less than 0-001) and a slower sensory conduction velocity of the ulnar and median nerves (P less than 0-05). There was no significant difference between the patients and controls in the maximum motor conductionvelocity of the median, ulnar, deep peroneal, or posterior tibial nerves. Slight peripheral neuropathy seems to be associated with latent hereditary hepatic porphyria, even in patients who have never had symptoms.