Definition of "porphyria" [porphyria]

• Any of several disorders of porphyrin metabolism, usually hereditary, characterized by the presence of large amounts of porphyrins in the blood and urine. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Another symptom of porphyria is an intolerance to sulfur in foods."
• "JULIA GNUSE: I have a skin disorder called porphyria, which is similar to lupus, but it is not a life-threatening disease."
• "Another syndrome that sometimes goes hand in hand with HCV is called porphyria cutanea tarda."