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Short- and long-term treatment with Scenesse (afamelanotide) improves life quality in adults with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP), according to the largest real-world study of its kind. The therapy’s safety profile among those over 70 was consistent with that of the overall patient population, with nausea, cold-like symptoms, headache, and fatigue…

Alnylam Act, a sponsored genetic testing program developed by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and now under the management of Preventiongenetics, is offering free services for certain people in the U.S. and Canada suspected of having acute hepatic porphyria (AHP). Through the program, genetic testing and counseling are offered at…

A boy’s long medical odyssey, which eventually led to a diagnosis of congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) but left the child with long-term disabilities, demonstrates the need for timely recognition of this rare form of porphyria, per a report from India. “This case report illustrates the complex and challenging journey…

Liver abnormalities are common among people with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP), a large U.S. study suggests. While the abnormalities were mild in most cases, in a small fraction of patients they may be tied to a risk of worse outcomes. In fact, at least half the reported…

A 26-year-old man who developed seizures, muscle weakness, and abdominal pain was eventually diagnosed with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), a Chinese study reports. The patient was initially diagnosed with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), a rare condition marked by swelling in the brain, but a biochemical and genetic analysis later…

Heavy alcohol use and hepatitis C, a viral infection that can cause damage to the liver, may have triggered porphyria cutanea tarda, a common form of porphyria that manifests as painful lesions on sun-exposed skin areas, usually in late adulthood, in a 59-year-old man in Indianapolis. “The distinctive [skin]…

A 15-year-old girl who developed seizures and changes in her mental health status was diagnosed with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) associated with encephalopathy, or changes in brain function, a U.S. study reports. The clinicians noted her initial presentation was confusing with apparently unrelated symptoms. However, the girl did show…

Multiple testing and specialist appointments are often needed for diagnosing erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP), and both conditions are frequently associated with significant healthcare costs. That’s according to a real-world study that analyzed the medical records of EPP and XLP patients in the U.S. The patients waited about…

People with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), the most common form of porphyria, may be at a higher risk of heart attacks, blood clot-related complications, and other cardiovascular conditions, underscoring the need for early screening and targeted treatment, a retrospective study from the U.S. suggests. According to researchers, “physicians can consider…

A 17-year-old girl was eventually diagnosed with acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) after experiencing several episodes of intense abdominal pain, gastrointestinal issues, and seizure-like activity, according to a report in the U.S. “This case highlights the diagnostic complexities and treatment challenges that patients with AIP face when navigating this challenging…