Acute intermittent porphyria associated with transient elevation of transaminases during an acute attack

A 44-year-old woman with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) was admitted to Kudanzaka Hospital because of abdominal pain. A cholecystectomy was perfor med in another hospital without improvement. On admission, her transaminase s were elevated to greater than 1,000 mU/ml, After an intravenous drip of m ainly glucose, her transaminases returned to normal. Her acute attacks occu rred during stress, and she died of respiratory failure after repetitive ac ute episodes, AIP should be included in a list of the differential diagnosi s of gastrointestinal diseases, neurosis, and hysteria, This is the first c ase of AIP accompanied by transient marked elevation of transaminases durin g an acute attack.