Acute intermittent porphyria, seizures, and antiepileptic drugs: a report on a 3-year-old Nigerian boy

A 3-year-old Nigerian boy was treated with phenobarbitone after having a no nfebrile seizure. Two weeks later his urine was found to contain porphobili nogen, indicating that latent acute intermittent porphyria had been unmaske d by phenobarbitone. The drug was discontinued and carbamazepine was substi tuted. The urine became free of polphobilinogen and the patient remained we ll. In developing countries phenobarbitone is the most widely used anticonv ulsant; it must be avoided in acute intermittent porphyria, and carbamazepi ne may be tolerated. (C) 2001 BEA Trading Ltd.