Prevention of acute porphyric attacks by intravenous haematin.

A thirty-three-year-old female with acute intermittent porphyria (A.I.P.) was having regular attacks of the disease with her menstrual periods. During several of these attacks she received intravenous haematin, which was followed by chemical and clinical remissions. Hormones failed to prevent the regular attacks, which were completely prevented by 200 mg of haematin, given approximately once a week for six months. There were no changes in menstruation. The monthly attacks recurred on withdrawal of haematin.