Porphyria (por-FEAR-e-uh) refers to a group of disorders that result from a buildup of natural chemicals that produce porphyrin in your body. Porphyrins are essential for the function of hemoglobin — a protein in your red blood cells that links to porphyrin, binds iron, and carries oxygen to your organs and tissues.
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[[5-Aminolevulinic acid]] ([[5-ALA]]) is a precursor of [[porphyrin]]s and [[heme]] that has been implicated in the neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with [[porphyria]]s. It is also being used clinically to delineate [[malignant glioma]]s.