Acute Porphyria: An Unusual Case Of Quadriparesis, Hypertension, Recurrent Severe Cyclic Abdominal Pain, And Seizures.

Porphyria refers to a rare group of genetically inherited or acquired disorders that arise due to reduced metabolic activity of any of the enzymes in the haem biosynthetic pathway. Defect in any enzyme causes the presentation of symptoms of porphyria. The epidemiology of Acute Intermittent Porphyria (AIP) is complicated because of its rarity and delay in diagnosis. We present the case of a seven-year-old girl who presented with multisystem involvement; her symptoms were quadriparesis, hypertension, recurrent severe cyclic abdominal pain, and seizures. These symptoms together were not explained by the differentials taken into account. She presented before puberty with no family history of such conditions, while being born of consanguineous marriage. Her symptoms along with urinary porphobilinogen positivity test helped to reach the diagnosis of AIP in the absence of cutaneous manifestations. This case highlights the variable presentation of porphyria and emphasises the importance of appropriate and timely diagnosis and management in these patients.

[Abdominal pain with neuropsychiatric symptoms and ventilatory failure as a presentation of acute porphyria]. / Abdomen agudo con compromiso neuropsiquiátrico y ventilatoria como presentación de porfiria agudac.

Background: Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is an uncommon metabolic disease, being the most common of the acute porphyrias. The most frequent symptom is acute abdominal pain, although can be accompanied by seizures, neuro-psychiatric alterations or symmetrical motor neuropathies, which in some patients can progress to respiratory musculature paralysis. Objective: To describe an atypical presentation of acute porphyria to be considered as differential diagnoses in abdominal pain. Clinical case: We present a case of a patient with AIP, presenting acute abdomen, seizures, later developed neuropsychiatric compromise and symmetrical motor neuropathy, and was admitted to mechanical ventilation. Due to the severity of the neurological involvement, he received hemin arginate, presenting with transient hypertransaminemia, an adverse event not previously reported. The evolution was favorable, with mechanical ventilation and hospital discharge withdrawn. Conclusions: The diagnosis of AIP should be considered in cases of acute abdominal pain associated with neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms, particularly young women. The administration of hemin is considered the standard of treatment, and even late could have beneficial effects.

Introducción: la porfiria aguda intermitente (PAI) es una enfermedad metabólica infrecuente, siendo la más común de las porfirias agudas. El síntoma más frecuente es el dolor abdominal agudo, aunque también pueden acompañarse de convulsiones, alteraciones neuro-psiquiátricas o neuropatías motoras simétricas, y que en algunos pacientes puede progresar a la parálisis de la musculatura respiratoria. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir una forma atípica de presentación de una porfiria aguda, a fin de considerar como diagnósticos diferenciales en dolor abdominal. Caso clínico: paciente con PAI, que presenta abdomen agudo, convulsiones, posteriormente compromiso neuro-psiquiátrico y neuropatía motora simétrica, ingresando a ventilación mecánica. Por la gravedad del compromiso neurológico recibió arginato de hemina, cursando con hipertransaminemia transitoria, evento adverso no reportado previamente. La evolución fue favorable, retirándosele la ventilación mecánica y el alta hospitalaria. Conclusiones: se debe considerar el diagnóstico de PAI en casos de dolor abdominal agudo asociado a síntomas neurológicos y/o psiquiátricos, particularmente en mujeres jóvenes. La administración de hemina es considerada el estándar de tratamiento, y aun en forma tardía podría tener efectos beneficiosos.

Dolor abdominal y parálisis flácida, una aproximación a las porfirias: serie de casos y revisión de la literatura / Flaccid paralysis and abdominal pain, an approach to porphyrias: a literature review and case series

RESUMEN Las porfirias son trastornos metabólicos hereditarios causados por deficiencias enzimáticas de la biosíntesis del grupo HEM. Con presentación en distintos grupos de edades, más común en infancia y tercera a cuarta década de la vida, se caracterizan por elevación de porfirinas, y manifestaciones variadas cutáneas y neuro viscerales. Describimos una serie de 3 casos de pacientes femeninas en tercera década de la vida con dolor abdominal severo e inespecífico y una amplia gama de manifestaciones clínicas con sus complicaciones a corto y largo plazo en quienes se diagnosticó porfiria aguda intermitente (PAI). Se hará revisión en la literatura para aportar al reconocimiento temprano de estas condiciones e instaurar de forma temprana el manejo específico e impactar en desenlaces irreversibles.

ABSTRACT Porphyrias are inherited metabolic disorders caused by enzymatic deficiencies of HEM group biosynthesis. Most common in childhood at the third and fourth decade of life. They are characterized by increased levels of porphyrins, and various cutaneous, neurological, and visceral manifestations. We describe a series of 3 cases of female patients in the third decade of life with abdominal pain and a wide range of clinical manifestations and short and long-term complications. Our review contributes to the early recognition of these diseases to establish early specific managements to impact on irreversible outcomes.

Advances in the treatment of acute intermittent porphyria / 临床肝胆病杂志

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare disease caused by enzyme deficiency due to HMBS gene mutation and is often life-threatening during acute attack. This article introduces the traditional treatment methods for AIP, such as high-carbohydrate therapy and intravenous heme infusion, as well as several emerging therapies targeting the etiology of AIP, including enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapy with multiple strategies of DNA gene augmentation, mRNA gene augmentation, and RNAi gene silencing. It is worth noting that breakthroughs have been made in Givosiran, a drug based on RNAi gene silencing, and it has been used in clinical practice. Gene therapy targeting the etiology of AIP may become a new trend in the treatment of rare diseases in the future.

Pathogenesis and prevention strategy of hepatocellular carcinoma in acute intermittent porphyria / 临床肝胆病杂志

With the development of genetics and molecular biology, the research on acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) has been gradually deepened, and its complication hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has attracted more and more attention. This article mainly summarizes the research advances in the pathogenesis and prevention of HCC in AIP. The pathogenesis of AIP with HCC is associated with oxidative stress, p53 mutation, downregulation of Bcl-2, increase in inflammatory cytokines, and iron overload, and its prevention strategies include the use of statins, strict management, liver transplantation, gene therapy, and enzyme replacement therapy. This article reviews the latest advances in the pathogenesis and prevention of AIP with HCC.

Porfiria intermitente aguda: reporte de caso / Acute intermittent porphyria: A case report

El término 'porfiria' proviene del griego 'porphyra' y alude a un grupo heterogéneo de trastornos metabólicos causados por una deficiencia enzimática en la biosíntesis del grupo hemo. La causa de la porfiria intermitente aguda es la deficiencia de la enzima deaminasa del porfobilinógeno. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 40 años que presentó dolor abdominal de 10 días de evolución, trastorno hidroelectrolítico grave debido a hiponatremia e hipopotasemia, taquicardia e hipertensión arterial sistémica persistentes, por lo cual fue sometida a una laparotomía en la que no se encontró ninguna afección de origen quirúrgico, A los siete días del examen inicial, la paciente desarrolló cuadriparesia flácida aguda y presentó una crisis convulsiva tónico-clónica generalizada. Los estudios neurofisiológicos evidenciaron una polineuropatía axonal mixta, y los valores de porfobilinógeno y porfirinas en orina eran elevados. Tras diagnosticarse porfiria intermitente aguda, esta se trató con hemina, lo que estabilizó los signos clínicos y normalizó el porfobilinógeno. La prevalencia de esta enfermedad es de 1 en 2.000 personas. Tiene un patrón de herencia autosómico dominante y se manifiesta principalmente en mujeres con edades entre los 20 y los 40 años. La enfermedad cursa con síntomas neurológicos y viscerales, y se trata con la administración de hemina y dextrosa, evitando las soluciones hipotónicas por el riesgo de exacerbar la hiponatremia.

The term 'porphyria' comes from the Greek 'porphyra'. It refers to a heterogeneous group of metabolic disorders caused by the enzymatic deficiency in the biosynthesis of the heme group. Acute intermittent porphyria is caused by a deficiency of the porphobilinogen deaminase enzyme. A 40-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain for ten days (which required laparotomy that evidenced no surgical pathology), severe hydroelectrolytic disorder due to hyponatremia and resistant hypokalemia, persistent tachycardia and hypertension. Seven days later, she developed acute flabby quadriparesis and presented a single generalized tonic-clonic convulsive crisis. Neurophysiological studies supported mixed axonal polyneuropathy and urine results of porphobilinogen and porphyrins were elevated. After acute intermittent porphyria was diagnosed, hemin was administered, which stabilized the patient's clinical signs and normalized the porphobilinogen. The prevalence of this entity is 1 in 2,000 people. It is an autosomal dominant disease, which affects mainly women between 20 and 40 years of age. This entity manifests with neurological and visceral symptoms. Management consists of hematin and dextrose administration avoiding hypotonic solutions because of the risk of exacerbating hyponatremia.

[Clinical characteristics of 50 patients with acute intermittent porphyria].

Objective: To analyse the clinical characteristics of patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) in order to improve the understanding and treatment. Methods: Patients diagnosed as AIP and admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively enrolled from January 2008 to July 2018. Data of clinical manifestations, causes, laboratory data, treatment and clinical outcome were recorded. Results: Among the 50 patients, 41 patients (82%) were aged 20 to 40. The ratio of male and female was 1∶1.8. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (94.0%), nausea, vomiting (72.0%) and constipation (42.0%). Neuropsychiatric disorders were seen in 72.0% patients, and 30.0% of the patients had dark-coloured urine. Precipitating factors included infections, menstruation, starvation, drugs, alcohol consumption, mental stimulation and so on. Laboratory tests were abnormal for urinary porphobilinogen, liver function, hyponatremia, anaemia and so on. Various mutations of hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS) genes were detected in 16 patients. Management strategies included removal of risk factors, administration of glycogen and symptomatic treatment during acute episode. Most patients were discharged with improved conditions. Conclusions: The clinical manifestations of acute intermittent porphyria are complex and diverse. Misdiagnoses or malpractice may be fatal. It is critical to emphasize on its early diagnosis and treatment.

Clinical characteristics of 50 patients with acute intermittent porphyria / 中华内科杂志

Objective To analyse the clinical characteristics of patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) in order to improve the understanding and treatment. Methods Patients diagnosed as AIP and admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively enrolled from January 2008 to July 2018. Data of clinical manifestations, causes, laboratory data, treatment and clinical outcome were recorded. Results Among the 50 patients, 41 patients (82%) were aged 20 to 40. The ratio of male and female was 1∶1.8. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (94.0%), nausea, vomiting (72.0%) and constipation (42.0%). Neuropsychiatric disorders were seen in 72.0% patients, and 30.0% of the patients had dark?coloured urine. Precipitating factors included infections, menstruation, starvation, drugs, alcohol consumption, mental stimulation and so on. Laboratory tests were abnormal for urinary porphobilinogen, liver function, hyponatremia, anaemia and so on. Various mutations of hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS) genes were detected in 16 patients. Management strategies included removal of risk factors, administration of glycogen and symptomatic treatment during acute episode. Most patients were discharged with improved conditions. Conclusions The clinical manifestations of acute intermittent porphyria are complex and diverse. Misdiagnoses or malpractice may be fatal. It is critical to emphasize on its early diagnosis and treatment.

Medical and financial burden of acute intermittent porphyria.

INTRODUCTION: A small proportion of patients with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) suffer from recurrent porphyric attacks, with a severely diminished quality of life. In this retrospective case-control study, the burden of disease is quantified and compared among three AIP patient subgroups: cases with recurrent attacks, cases with one or occasional attacks and asymptomatic carriers. METHODS: Data from patient records and questionnaires were collected in patients between 1960 and 2016 at the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. We collected symptoms related to porphyria, porphyria related complications, attack frequency, hospitalisation frequency, hospitalisation days related to acute porphyric attacks, frequency of heme infusions and medical healthcare costs based on hospitalisations and heme therapy. RESULTS: In total 11 recurrent AIP cases, 24 symptomatic AIP cases and 53 AIP carriers as controls were included. All recurrent patients reported porphyria related symptoms, such as pain, neurological and/or psychiatric disorders, and nearly all developed complications, such as hypertension and chronic kidney disease. In the recurrent cases group, the median lifelong number of hospitalisation days related to porphyric attacks was 82 days per patient (range 10-374), and they spent a median of 346 days (range 34-945) at a day-care facility for prophylactic heme therapy; total follow-up time was 243 person-years (PYRS). In the symptomatic non-recurrent group the median lifelong number of hospitalisation days related to porphyric attacks was 7 days per patient (range 1-78), total follow-up time was 528 PYRS. The calculated total medical healthcare cost for recurrent cases group was €5.8 million versus €0.3 million for the symptomatic cases group.

Porfiria aguda intermitente com complicações decorrentes do diagnóstico tardio em paciente pediátrico / Acute intermittent porphyria with complications arising from late diagnosis in a pediatric patient

A porfiria é uma doença rara, decorrente da deficiência enzimática associada à biossíntese do grupamento heme. O objetivo deste relato é descrever um caso de crise porfirêmica aguda intermitente em um paciente de 15 anos, que evoluiu rapidamente com tetraplegia e insuficiência renal crônica terminal, além de distúrbios neuropsiquiátricos. Representa uma entidade de difícil diagnóstico devido à inespecificidade dos achados clínicos. À admissão a creatinina era de 6,44 mg/dL e a uréia de 103 mg/dL. Déficit neurológico importante e insuficiência renal crônica são complicações raras, decorrentes do diagnóstico e tratamento tardio. É fundamental que o tratamento seja iniciado imediatamente após o diagnóstico, devido não somente à morbidade a curto-médio prazo, mas também aos possíveis efeitos deletérios permanentes. (AU)

Porphyria is a rare disease, consequence of enzymatic deficiencies associated with heme group biosynthesis. The aim of this report is to describe a case of acute intermittent porphyria crisis in a 15-year-old patient who progressed rapidly with tetraplegia and chronic terminal renal failure, as well as severe neuropsychiatric disorders. It represents an entity of difficult diagnosis due to the lack of specificity of the clinical findings. At admission, creatinine was 6.44 mg / dL and urea was 103 mg / dL. Significant neurological deficit and chronic renal failure are rare complications, arising from late diagnosis and treatment. A greater degree of clinical suspicion is fundamental that treatment be started immediately after diagnosis, due not only to short-term morbidity but also to possible deleterious permanent effects (AU)

[Altered orientation and aggressiveness in an 89-year-old woman]. / Wechselnde Vigilanz und Fremdaggressivität bei einer 89­jährigen Patientin.

An 89-year-old woman with Alzheimer's dementia was admitted because of altered orientation, aggressiveness and inability to take care of herself at home. Her patient history indicated that 14 days ago the battery of the pacemaker had be renewed. During that time the patient suffered from psychomotor alterations. Therefore, melperone had been initiated. Inspection of the urine and laboratory findings pointed towards an acute exacerbation of acute intermittent porphyria as a possible cause of the delirium. After discontinuation of melperone with additional parenteral therapy with physiological fluids, the signs of delirium significantly improved.

Fisiopatologia da porfiria aguda intermitente / Acute intermittent porphyria pathophysiology

Porfirias são transtornos metabólicos de origem genética e caráter autossômico dominante ou recessivo que causam erros na rota da biossíntese das porfirinas e do grupo heme. Dentro desse grupo se destaca a porfiria aguda intermitente como sendo a mais comum entre os demais tipos de porfirias na maioria dos países, com incidência de aproximadamente 1 a 2/100.000 habitantes. Possui caráter autossômico dominante e prevalece no sexo feminino durante o período da menacme. É uma doença que tem como principais sintomas dor abdominal, náuseas, vômitos, alterações do hábito intestinal, taquicardia, febre, neuropatia periférica e distúrbios psiquiátricos. Diversos fatores podem desencadear uma crise, entre eles dieta hipocalórica e pobre em carboidratos, drogas porfirinogênicas, estresse e exercício físico extenuante. O diagnóstico precoce e tratamento adequado melhoram o prognóstico e evitam maiores complicações e a atuação do fisioterapeuta é importante na recuperação da funcionalidade corporal e na melhora da qualidade de vida do paciente. Este trabalho se baseou em uma ampla revisão bibliográfica, com base nos bancos de dados Pubmed, Lilacs e SciELO, acerca do conhecimento científico sobre porfiria aguda intermitente, bem como sua fisiopatologia, diagnóstico diferencial, prevenção, tratamento e recursos adjuvantes como a fisioterapia.

La porfiria aguda intermitente y el cirujano: un reto diagnóstico: reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Acute intermittent porphyria and the surgeon: a diagnostic challenge: case report and literature review

La porfiria intermitente aguda es conocida, en el ámbito de la cirugía, como una de las causas de abdomen agudo no quirúrgico. No obstante, lo que no se menciona con frecuencia es la posibilidad de que cualquier procedimiento quirúrgico precipite un episodio agudo en pacientes con predisposición genética. Se presenta un caso florido de porfiria intermitente aguda precipitado por una apendicectomía, el cual complicó el posoperatorio de la paciente hasta el punto de requerir una laparotomía no terapéutica, dado el complejo sintomático de difícil interpretación.

Acute porphyria is an uncommon cause of non surgical acute abdomen. Important is the fact that any surgical intervention could set off an acute attack in particular cases, when the patient has genetical predisposition. We present a case of an acute attack of Intermitent Acute Porphyria triggered by an appendectomy. The patient developed the typical syndrome during the postoperative period, including the abdominal symptoms that imitate an acute abdomen that required a non- therapeutic laparotomy.

Porfiria: uma causa rara de abdômen agudo / Porphyria: a rare cause of acute abdomen

É relatado caso clínico de paciente jovem portadora de porfiria aguda intermitente (PAI), cuja apresentação inicial foi de abdômen agudo. O diagnóstico etiológico tardio, depois de duas intervenções cirúrgicas, foi responsável por significativo aumento da morbidade. O objetivo deste relato é alertar os médicos que atendem em serviços de urgência sobre a importância de se considerar o diagnóstico diferencial do abdômen agudo.

This is a case-report of a young female, adult pacient, with intermitent acute porphyria, whose initial presentation was an acute abdomen. The delayed diagnosis, after two surgical interventions, was responsible of increaded morbity. The objective of this report is to warn doctors that works in emergency centers the importance of the diferential diagnosis in the acute abdomen.

Porfiria aguda intermitente: relato de caso e revisão da literatura / Acute intermittent porphyria: case report and review of the literature

Porfiria aguda intermitente é patologia incomum, com conseqüências potencialmente graves se não reconhecida precocemente. Dentre as possíveis causas de indução de crises de porfiria, a redução da ingestão calórica é descrita na literatura. Relatamos um caso de porfiria aguda intermitente no pós-operatório tardio de gastroplastia indicada para tratamento da obesidade, revisando aspectos do diagnóstico e tratamento da patologia na unidade de terapia intensiva. Paciente feminina, 31 anos, com história de gastroplastia há 3 semanas admitida na unidade de terapia intensiva com rebaixamento do nível de consciência e desconforto respiratório. Evoluiu com agitação psicomotora, confusão mental, dor abdominal e tetraparesia proximal. Na investigação diagnóstica foi encontrado hiponatremia grave (92 mEq/L), hipomagnesemia, hipofosfatemia e hipocalcemia, urina turva, sem hematúria. Aventou-se hipótese de porfiria aguda, realizado dosagem do ácido delta-aminolevulínico e porfobilinogênio na urina de 24h, com elevação de ambos. Iniciado tratamento com dieta rica em carboidratos, sem utilizar hematina ou arginato de heme, devido à dificuldades no fornecimento destas medicações. Evoluiu com melhora clínica gradativa e recuperação completa da força muscular após 8 meses. A porfiria aguda intermitente possui sinais e sintomas comuns a muitas patologias clínicas e neuropsiquiátricas dificultando o diagnóstico, em especial quando estes se manifestam isoladamente. Assim, deve-se incluir a porfiria aguda intermitente no diagnóstico diferencial de distúrbios neurológicos, psiquiátricos e gastroenterológicos em crises, no qual todos os demais exames estejam normais. Atenção deve ser dada a pacientes submetidos à cirurgias, em especial cirurgia bariátrica que, além do estresse cirúrgico, limita substancialmente a ingesta calórica podendo desencadear crises. Não há descrito na literatura, até o momento, nenhum caso de porfiria aguda intermitente no pós-operatório...

Acute intermittent porphyria is an unusual pathology with potentially severe consequences when not early detected. Among the possible causes of porphyric crises decrease of caloric intake has been described. A case of acute intermittent porphyria in the late postoperative period of a bariatric surgery performed for treatment of obesity is reported. A review of the diagnostic aspects and management of this pathology in the intensive care unit follows. A 31 year old woman was admitted in the intensive care unit three weeks after a bariatric surgery, with decreased level of consciousness and respiratory distress. The patient evolved with psychomotor agitation, mental confusion, abdominal pain and proximal tetraparesis. Diagnosis investigation disclosed severe hyponatremia (92mEq/L), hypomagnesemia, hypophosfatemia and hypocalcemia and cloudy urine without hematuria. Acute porphyria was suspected and the urine test detected high delta amino-levulinic acid and porphobilinogen. Treatment consisted of a correction of electrolyte disturbances and high carbohydrate intake. Hematin and heme arginate were not used, due to the difficulty to acquire the medication. After 8 months the patient progressed with full recovery of muscle strength and a clinical improvement. Acute intermittent porphyria has signs and symptoms common to several clinical, neurological, psychiatric and gastroenterological pathologies, which complicate diagnosis. Therefore, acute intermittent porphyria should be included in the differential diagnosis of neurological, psychiatric and gastroenterological alterations when results of all other exams are normal. Attention must be given to patients undergoing surgery mainly bariatric that, in addition to procedure stress, substantially limit the total caloric intake, potentially triggering crises. Review of literature did not disclose any report of acute intermittent porphyria crisis induced by bariatric surgery.