Search

THERE have been an increasing number of case reports of the hitherto comparatively been an increasing number of case reports of the hitherto comparatively rare group of disorders included under the general term of porphyria. An excellent review of the recent literature may be found in the publications of Goldman and Kaplan 1 and of Calvy, Jaruszewski, and Carroll. 2 In all the case reports it may be noted that the treatment of this severe disorder has been entirely nonspecific and has been directed primarily toward the correction and amelioration of the distressing symptoms of the disease, particularly pain and fluid imbalance. This report concerns itself with a case of acute intermittent porphyria of the "mixed" variety, combining the features of the light-sensitive and the acute type. It is noteworthy, as it presents the first recorded case in which dramatically successful therapy was accomplished with adrenocortical hormone. A 39-year-old Englishwoman was first