porphyria

noun

Etymology: From porphyrin, from German Porphyrin.

1. Any of several usually hereditary abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism characterized by excretion of excess porphyrins in the urine.

   “The term porphyria, derived from the Greek word porphyra, meaning purple, is apt because a hallmark of most of the porphyrias is the overexcretion of porphyrins in urine or feces.”

   “However, the appearance of homozygous forms without consanguinity and coincidence of two types of porphyria in the same patient, dual porphyrias, is possible.”