Prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case report

Introduction. Among the acute hepatic porphyrias, a small percentage of patients, predominantly female, present with recurrent cyclic attacks of acute intermittent porphyria that occur more than three times a year and sometimes at intervals of less than a month. In women, the attacks are typically r...

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Main Authors: Krnetić Žarko, Pešić Tatjana, Savić Željka, Jocić Tatiana, Latinović-Bošnjak Olgica, Vračarić Vladimir, Damjanov Dimitrije
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Military Health Department, Ministry of Defance, Serbia 2022-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100009K.pdf
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author Krnetić Žarko
Pešić Tatjana
Savić Željka
Jocić Tatiana
Latinović-Bošnjak Olgica
Vračarić Vladimir
Damjanov Dimitrije
author_facet Krnetić Žarko
Pešić Tatjana
Savić Željka
Jocić Tatiana
Latinović-Bošnjak Olgica
Vračarić Vladimir
Damjanov Dimitrije
author_sort Krnetić Žarko
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Among the acute hepatic porphyrias, a small percentage of patients, predominantly female, present with recurrent cyclic attacks of acute intermittent porphyria that occur more than three times a year and sometimes at intervals of less than a month. In women, the attacks are typically related to the menstrual cycle, requiring several days of hospitalization and administration of heme arginate. For these patients, prophylactic heme arginate therapy may be the optimal treatment modality. Case report. We presented a 40-year-old female patient who has been suffering from porphyria for seventeen years. The first attack occurred in 2003, presenting with severe neurological symptoms, requiring the use of heme arginate (Normosang®, Orphan Europe), which resulted in a favorable therapeutic response. In 2004 and 2007, gonadorelin analogue goserelin (Zoladex®) was used, but without beneficial effects on the course of the disease. In 2008, a preventive administration of heme arginate was initiated. The patient received heme arginate in the early phase of symptoms, every month in the premenstrual phase of the cycle, which resulted in milder symptoms, full recovery within 24 hours, lower doses of Normosang® (1-2 ampoules), and fewer hospital days (1-2 days) per month. This regimen has significantly improved the patient's quality of life and reduced the risk of potential ad-verse effects. Conclusion. Preventive use of Normosang® is the optimal therapeutic modality in patients with frequent, recurrent severe attacks that are unresponsive to other therapeutic regimens. As a result, patients have a better quality of life due to an effective, short-term, targeted treatment regimen.
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spelling doaj.art-2f5daddccd8d4cb693c6f127d81bffbf2022-12-22T02:50:04ZengMilitary Health Department, Ministry of Defance, SerbiaVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202022-01-0179662462710.2298/VSP200629009K0042-84502100009KProphylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case reportKrnetić Žarko0Pešić Tatjana1Savić Željka2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0720-4738Jocić Tatiana3Latinović-Bošnjak Olgica4Vračarić Vladimir5Damjanov Dimitrije6University Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia + University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Novi Sad, Serbia + University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, SerbiaIntroduction. Among the acute hepatic porphyrias, a small percentage of patients, predominantly female, present with recurrent cyclic attacks of acute intermittent porphyria that occur more than three times a year and sometimes at intervals of less than a month. In women, the attacks are typically related to the menstrual cycle, requiring several days of hospitalization and administration of heme arginate. For these patients, prophylactic heme arginate therapy may be the optimal treatment modality. Case report. We presented a 40-year-old female patient who has been suffering from porphyria for seventeen years. The first attack occurred in 2003, presenting with severe neurological symptoms, requiring the use of heme arginate (Normosang®, Orphan Europe), which resulted in a favorable therapeutic response. In 2004 and 2007, gonadorelin analogue goserelin (Zoladex®) was used, but without beneficial effects on the course of the disease. In 2008, a preventive administration of heme arginate was initiated. The patient received heme arginate in the early phase of symptoms, every month in the premenstrual phase of the cycle, which resulted in milder symptoms, full recovery within 24 hours, lower doses of Normosang® (1-2 ampoules), and fewer hospital days (1-2 days) per month. This regimen has significantly improved the patient's quality of life and reduced the risk of potential ad-verse effects. Conclusion. Preventive use of Normosang® is the optimal therapeutic modality in patients with frequent, recurrent severe attacks that are unresponsive to other therapeutic regimens. As a result, patients have a better quality of life due to an effective, short-term, targeted treatment regimen.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100009K.pdfhem arginateporphyriastertiary preventiontreatment outcome
spellingShingle Krnetić Žarko
Pešić Tatjana
Savić Željka
Jocić Tatiana
Latinović-Bošnjak Olgica
Vračarić Vladimir
Damjanov Dimitrije
Prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case report
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
hem arginate
porphyrias
tertiary prevention
treatment outcome
title Prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case report
title_full Prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case report
title_fullStr Prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case report
title_short Prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria: A case report
title_sort prophylactic heme arginate therapy in acute intermittent hepatic porphyria a case report
topic hem arginate
porphyrias
tertiary prevention
treatment outcome
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2022/0042-84502100009K.pdf
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