Hereditary coproporphyria: a case report

A case of hereditary coproporphyria was reported, he was a 21-year-old farmer, presenting with abdominal pain and fever. His manifestations were composed of all classical symptoms of acute hepatic porphyrias i.e. convulsions, psychosis, hypertension and respiratory failure as well as dark red urine with positive Watson-Schwartz test. Because of lack of cutaneous photosensitivity and strikingly increased urinary coproporphyrin, diagnosis of hereditary coproporphyria was most likely. Precipitating factor could not be identified. He responded well to glucose and other symptomatic treatment during the first admission but not in the second. He died from respiratory failure.