Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP) | Differential Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of AIP attacks

Common clinical conditions mimicked by an acute porphyric attack¹

Acute hypoadrenalism (Addisonian crisis)

Acute hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemic crisis

Pheocromocytoma

Guillain‑Barré syndrome

Emicrania

Acute psychotic attack

Delirium

Acute panic attack

Epilepsy

Acute myopathies

Hypertensive crisis

Tachyarrhythmia

Acute hemolytic crisis

Acute drepanocytic crisis

Acute gastroenteritis with vomiting

Dismetabolic/disendocrine conditions	Acute hypoadrenalism (Addisonian crisis) Acute hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemic crisis Pheocromocytoma
Neurolopsychiatric conditions	Guillain‑Barré syndrome Emicrania Acute psychotic attack Delirium Acute panic attack Epilepsy Acute myopathies
Cardiovascular conditions	Hypertensive crisis Tachyarrhythmia
Hematological conditions	Acute hemolytic crisis Acute drepanocytic crisis
Gastroenterological conditions	Acute gastroenteritis with vomiting

Diagnosing AIP / Diagnostic Testing / Family Testing / Differential Diagnosis

Reference:

Ventura P, et al, A challenging diagnosis for potential fatal diseases: Recommendations for diagnosing acute porphyrias. Eur J Intern Med 2014;25(6):497-505.