Hyperinsulinemia in acute intermittent porphyria.

Diabetic oral glucose tolerance test together with hyperinsulinemia in a patient with decompensated acute intermittent porphyria is contrasted to normal findings in compensated acute intermittent porphyria (AIP). Results point to the essential role of insulin for the depression of porphyrin precursor overproduction as a mediator of the "glucose effect".