Coagulopathy Associated with Hematin Treatment for Acute Intermittent Porphyria

Abstract
Hematin was an effective therapy for acute intermittent porphyria. Few complications were found. A patient who developed a markedly prolonged prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, thrombocytopenia, mild hypofibrinogenemia, mild elevation of fibrin split products and a 10% fall in hematocrit while receiving hematin was described. No other cause for coagulopathy was found. The abnormal coagulation variables returned to normal when hematin was discontinued. Patients receiving hematin for acute intermittent porphyria should be observed for signs of coagulopathy.