Variegate porphyria is characterized by cutaneous manifestations, including increased photosensitivity, blistering, skin fragility with chronic scarring of sun-exposed areas, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Acute exacerbations of VP include abdominal pain, the passage of dark urine, and neuropsychiatric symptoms that characterize the acute hepatic porphyrias, such as bulbar paralysis, quadriplegia, motor neuropathy, and weakness of the limbs. In heterozygotes, PPOX activity is decreased by about 50%. [From OMIM]
