Patricia Inácio, PhD, science writer —

Cosentyx (secukinumab) — a treatment approved for a skin condition called psoriasis — successfully treated both that disorder and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), the most common form of porphyria, in a 65-year-old woman, a case study shows. Subsequently stopping Cosentyx, which works by blocking the pro-inflammatory molecule IL-17, led…

A man in his 40s with a history of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) had an attack triggered by a COVID-19 infection after two years without any episodes, according to researchers. The AIP attack was complicated by rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition in which muscles break down. While the patient recovered…

For the first time in Thailand, home to an estimated 350 undiagnosed acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) patients, molecular testing was used to confirm an AIP attack in a 14-year-old girl, researchers report. The teen had experienced bouts of abdominal pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms that are a hallmark of…

A report described a case of variegate porphyria, a type of acute porphyria, in a 9-year-old girl who had several underlying medical conditions, including a severe form of epilepsy. The researchers noted that while variegate porphyria is not frequently seen in children, when it is it’s “associated with more…

People with acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) having recurrent attacks are burdened with chronic symptoms between those attacks, according to data from the natural history EXPLORE study. High disease burden was also observed in patients having fewer porphyria attacks — less than three in the absence of preventive treatment for…

A total of 30 patient advocacy groups working to further understanding and the needs of people living with rare diseases have been selected to receive a Horizon Therapeutics‘ #RAREis Global Advocate Grant. Winners of this year’s inaugural awards are spread across nine countries and represent a total of 29 rare…

A large proportion of people with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) may still be undiagnosed in China, according to a recent study — and without a proper diagnosis, they’re not receiving needed treatment, researchers say. “More nationwide epidemiological surveys and study of the prevalence rate of AIP patients in China are…

A report has described for the first time the case of a patient having an acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) attack following treatment with oseltamivir, an oral antiviral medication commonly prescribed for treating the flu. The report, “Acute intermittent porphyria: is oseltamivir safe in these patients?,” was published in…

A high-dose regimen of hydroxychloroquine given over a short period of time can successfully treat porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), according to a recent case report. The report, “Porphyria cutanea tarda treated with short-term high-dose hydroxychloroquine: a case report,” was published in AME Case Reports. …

A new mutation in the FECH gene was identified as the cause of erythropoietic protoporphyria in a 14-year-old Japanese boy, as described in a recent study. The case report was published in the form of a letter to the editor in The Journal of…