Each porphyria causes different symptoms and is usually divided into two categories: ‘acute’ and ‘cutaneous’. Acute porphyrias can cause attacks that last from a few days to a few weeks and can result in abdominal pain (the most common symptom), vomiting, constipation, muscle pain, weakness or numbness, seizures, anxiety, confusion, depression or sleep disturbances, rapid heartbeat, difficulty urinating or red urine.
Cutaneous porphyrias occur after sun exposure and can cause: blistering of the skin (especially on the face and back of the hands), painful, itchy and swollen skin.
Some porphyrias can cause symptoms of both acute and cutaneous porphyrias.