News

Woman with HFE mutations gets PCT, sarcoidosis diagnosis

A woman in her 60s with fragile skin and blistering lesions on sun-exposed areas was diagnosed with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), the most common form of porphyria, alongside cutaneous sarcoidosis, a rare inflammatory skin condition, according to a case study from Canada. The woman was found to carry two…

COVID-19 triggers AIP attack in woman, 31, case report says

COVID-19 triggered an attack of acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) in a 31-year-old woman, according to a report in Japan. The woman started having seizures after contracting COVID-19 and was later diagnosed with AIP associated with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), a rare condition marked by brain swelling and…

Givlaari safe, effective for acute hepatic porphyria patients: Study

Givlaari (givosiran) safely led to reductions in porphyria attacks and improved the quality of life of people with acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) in Japan in an expanded access program, according to newly shared results. The researchers noted that earlier trial data had “indicated that [Givlaari] may be an important treatment option…

Choreographing her comeback: Dancing through life with AIP

It’s been about eight years since Hannah, a dancer and dance teacher, experienced her first acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) attack, but she can still clearly recall the intensity of the sharp stabbing sensation in her abdomen. The overwhelming pain, as well as fatigue, dizziness, and nausea, kept returning, their…

Acute hepatic porphyria prevalence more common in women

Acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) is more commonly seen in women in Denmark, with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) the the most frequent subtype. That’s according to a recent study that also found that patients with high levels of porphobilinogen, a porphyrin precursor that builds up to toxic levels in AHP…