CIMETIDINE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE INTERMITTENT PORPHYRIA

Two female patients with repeated exacerbations of acute intermittent porphyria (20 exacerbations in 44 and 5 in 34 months, respectively) we re treated with cimetidine (2 x 400 mg/d) over 4 months. Therapeutical aim of the medication was to prevent further porphyria manifestations . In contrast to previous casuistic reports and experimental studies i n laboratory animals cimetidine did not stabilize porphyrin biosynthes is. One patient had an acute attack during the period of treatment, wh ile the other had no further exacerbations. However, cimetidine did no t worsen the clinical course of our patients either and therefore can safely be applied as an H-2-antagonist in patients with acute intermit tent porphyria. While administration of glucose and heme-preparations is considered to be an effective form of therapy for the acute episode s, long-lasting as well as prophylactic therapies in order to stabiliz e the period of remission are not known so far.