The porphyrias are diseases that result from inherited or acquired abnormalities of porphyrin-heme synthesis in the liver and the bone marrow. Acute intermittent porphyria is characterized biochemically by hepatic overproduction of porphyrin precursors (ALA & PBG) and clinically by acute visceral and neurological dysfunction.

The authors experienced a case of acute intermittent porphyria and reviewed briefly literatures.

A 29 year old woman was complained of coliky abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting with constipation for 5 days and received operation at the Department of General Surgery under an impression of intestinal obstruction. The quadriplegia and paresthesia were developed on the postoperative 3rd day. Watson-Schwartz test was positive. After acute symptoms were subsided, she was transferred to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and a multidisciplinary team approach which includes physical and occupational therapy was employed for activities of daily living and functional recovery. She was independent in activities of daily living and was able to walk with short leg brace following comprehensive rehabilitation for 5 months.