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In 1885, the Western world was introduced to Romanian folklore with EmilyGerard’s bookTransylvanianSuperstitions. Shedescribes agroup of peoplewho, for hundreds of years, blended Christian traditionswith folk tales, which led them to believe in a demonic creature who would drinkhumanblood.Accordingtotheir superstitions, theonlywaytocombat thismonster was by driving a stake through its corpse or by removing its head and stuffing itsmouthwith garlic. Although countless artistic endeavors haveportrayed vampires in the years sinceGerard’swork published, the most iconic of them is Count Dracula, who first appeared inBramStoker’sdefiningnovel in 1897. InDracula,apersonwho appears pale and cold, is avoidant of bright lights, and has prominent teethwouldcarry thepathognomonic features toqualify for avampire. Althoughthisevil creature ismerelyacharactercreatedbyhumanminds, one cannot help but recognize the striking resemblance certain physical features bear to people with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). For example, a vampire “sleeps when others wake, that he may be awakewhilst theysleep!”Similarly,patientswithPCTmayprefer tocome out at night, because their skin blisters in the sun. Although there are numerous typesofporphyrias, PCT is themost commonof theporphyrias with cutaneous manifestations. Moreover, the skin around the patient’smouthmight retract, as if tightening from sun damage. This skin retraction may consequently reveal the teeth and cause them to appear more prominent. Furthermore, because these patients avoid the sun, they may develop a pale skin complexion, also causing them to fit the physical description of a vampire. It is ironic,however,thatvampireswerethoughttopreyonhumansand survive by drinking their blood, because repeated phlebotomy is amodernantidote forPCT.Nevertheless, onecannothelpbutwonder if these legendswerebornfromattemptsofpeople inthepasttocopewiththedisfigurement they encounteredonmeetingmedieval patientswith PCT.