[Anesthesia and hepatic porphyria]

[Obstetrical anaesthesia and porphyrias]

Acute hepatic porphyrias are genetic diseases, characterized by acute neurological symptoms, sometimes fatal, triggered by different factors, in particular by many anaesthetic drugs, and also by pregnancy. We report here the experience of three porphyric patients'deliveries, allowing us to consider a proposition of management in this context. After discussion between anaesthesiologist, obstetrician and porphyria specialist, two types of management of such patients can be foresee. Asymptomatic patients, or in long remission, can benefit from locoregional anesthesia techniques with bupivacaine for both labour analgesia and Caesarean section. Spinal anaesthesia is then the technique of choice, allowing using smaller quantity of local anaesthetic than epidural anaesthesia. For symptomatic patients, or in crisis, we have rather choose intravenous narcotics for labour analgesia, and general anaesthesia for Caesarean section. The hypnotic agent of choice for both induction and maintenance of such anaesthesia is then propofol.

[Acute hepatic porphyria and Diprivan]

Propofol may be used without any restriction in all cases of asymptomatic hepatic porphyria, as a bolus injection for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia and as a continuous infusion to produce anaesthesia of short and medium duration. If in doubt as to the absolute safety of propofol in case of symptomatic hepatic porphyria, preference has to be given to neuroleptanalgesia, benzodiazepines and muscle relaxants. If propofol is to be used, treatment with haematin should be readily available. In all cases, it is essential to determine porphyrins and their precursors prior to and after surgery. Urine collection should strictly adhere to the recommended procedure: sterile conditions, protected from light and high temperature. Any abnormal reaction after the administration of a drug, especially propofol, should be notified to and discussed with the National Porphyria Centre (Centre Français des Porphyries). In case of symptomatic hepatic porphyria the use of propofol should always be notified to the National and to the European Porphyria Centres (Orphan Europe).

Acute intermittent porphyria. A perplexing case

We report the case of a 58-year-old woman affected by polyneuropathy, vegetative disturbances and abdominal pain. A provisional diagnosis of acute intermittent porphyria was made and was confirmed by the increased levels of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphobilinogen (PBG).