porphyria

American  

[pawr-feer-ee-uh, -fahy-ree-uh] / pɔrˈfɪər i ə, -ˈfaɪ ri ə /

noun

Pathology.

1. a defect of blood pigment metabolism in which porphyrins are produced in excess, are present in the blood, and are found in the urine.

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porphyria British  

/ pɔːˈfɪrɪə /

noun

1. a hereditary disease of body metabolism, producing abdominal pain, mental confusion, etc

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Etymology

Origin of porphyria

First recorded in 1920–25; porphyr(in) + -ia

Example Sentences

Prof David Rees, the director of the King's College Hospital National Acute Porphyria Service, told the BBC: "To find a drug that really does transform people's lives is extraordinary."

From BBC • Oct. 20, 2021

Robert Browning didn’t kill Porphyria in “Porphyria’s Lover.”

From The New Yorker • Feb. 8, 2016

She suffers from Variegate Porphyria, a disorder that limits the amount of oxygen in her blood and can cause seizures and painful intestinal issues.

From Washington Times • Feb. 3, 2016

Porphyria was unknown in clinical jargon before the 20th century, and is still not fully understood.

From Time Magazine Archive

But the two which are much the most noteworthy are "Johannes Agricola" and "Porphyria".

From Life of Robert Browning by Sharp, William