Periodic Graphics: Porphyria and the vampirism myth

Chemical educator and Compound Interest blogger Andy Brunning pokes holes in the idea that the heme-related disorders inspired the concept of vampires To download a pdf of this article, visit cenm.ag/vampiremyth . References used to create this graphic: Kakoullis, Loukas, Stylianos Louppides, Eleni Papachristodoulou, and George Panos. “Porphyrias and Photosensitivity: Pathophysiology for the Clinician.” Postgrad. Med. (2018). DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2018.1533380. Maas, R. P. P. W. M., and P. J. G. M. Voets. “ The Vampire in Medical Perspective: Myth or Malady?” QJM (2014). DOI: 10.1093/qjmed/hcu159. Maranda, Eric Laurent, Robert Heifetz, William A. Estes, Jacqueline Cortizo, Shahjahan Shareef, and Joaquin J. Jimenez. “Porphyria and Vampirism—a Myth, Sensationalized.” JAMA Dermatol. (September 2016). DOI: 10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.6066. Sassa, Shigeru. “The Porphyrias.” Photodermatol., Photoimmunol. Photomed. (2002). DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0781.2002.180202.x. Winkler, Mary G., and Karl E. Anderson. “Vampires, Porphyria, and the Media: Medicalization of a Myth.” Perspect. Biol. Med. (Summer 1990). DOI: 10.1353/pbm.1990.0051. A collaboration between C&EN and Andy