Acute intermittent porphyria and epilepsy in a child: dilemma in diagnosis and seizure management

Background, - Acute intermittent porphyria is an autosomal dominant inborn error of heme biosynthesis. The diagnosis of acute porphyria is rare before puberty. Its association with epilepsy induces difficulties in diagnosis and seizure treatment. Case report, - A case of acute intermittent porphyria in a 9-year old boy with epilepsy is reported. The diagnosis was made only after the third hospitalisation, with the measurement of enzyme activity and identification of family members with latent disease. Adjustment of antiepileptic treatment was necessary 7 months later. Conclusion, - Most antiepileptic drugs are unsafe because they have demonstrated porphyrinogenicity. Low doses of clonazepam can be rued in this situation.