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Clinical Trial Summary

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the efficacy and safety of heme arginate in the treatment of 20 patients with acute attacks of porphyria.

II. Evaluate the efficacy and safety of heme arginate in preventing frequent exacerbations of acute porphyria in up to 15 patients.

III. Estimate the lowest effective dose of heme arginate (0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg) in reducing porphyrin precursors in 12 stable patients with acute intermittent porphyria in remission.

IV. Evaluate the safety and efficacy of tin mesoporphyrin used in combination with heme arginate in reducing porphyrin precursors in 12 stable patients with acute intermittent porphyria in remission.


Clinical Trial Description

PROTOCOL OUTLINE: This project involves 4 studies: an unblinded multicenter treatment study, an unblinded prevention study, a controlled dose-ranging study, and a controlled drug combination dose-ranging study.

In the treatment study, participants with acute attacks of porphyria receive intravenous heme arginate daily for 4 days. Treatment may be extended to 7 days in patients with severe attacks and slow recovery; these data are analyzed separately.

In the prevention study, participants receive weekly infusions of heme arginate for 6 months. Treatment may be extended in selected cases; these data are analyzed separately. If an acute attack occurs, patients are treated with a standard course of heme arginate. Participants are followed weekly for 6 months after preventive treatment.

In the dose-ranging study, 4 groups of 3 patients are randomly assigned to standard and low-dose heme arginate infusions, administered daily for 4 days. After a washout of 4-12 weeks, patients are crossed to a second dose. In 2 of the 4 groups, patients cross between heme arginate and a normal saline control.

In the combination dose-ranging study, 4 groups of 3 patients are randomly assigned to 1 of 2 doses of tin mesoporphyrin. After a 4-12 week washout, these patients are crossed to a standard or low-dose heme arginate infusion. After a second 4-12 week washout, patients are given a combination infusion of tin mesoporphyrin followed by heme arginate.

All participants are given a special diet to prevent fluctuations in porphyrin precursors. ;


Study Design

Primary Purpose: Treatment


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT00004789
Study type Interventional
Source Office of Rare Diseases (ORD)
Contact
Status Completed
Phase Phase 1/Phase 2
Start date July 1993

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT00004396 - Studies in Porphyria III: Heme and Tin Mesoporphyrin in Acute Porphyrias Phase 2
Recruiting NCT00004331 - Studies in Porphyria I: Characterization of Enzyme Defects N/A
Completed NCT00004788 - Study of Nutritional Factors in Porphyria N/A
Completed NCT00004330 - Studies in Porphyria IV: Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Analogues for Prevention of Cyclic Attacks N/A
Completed NCT00004397 - Phase I Study of Tin Mesoporphyrin in Patients on Long Term Heme Therapy for Prevention of Acute Attacks of Porphyria Phase 1
Completed NCT00004398 - Phase I Study of Heme Arginate With or Without Tin Mesoporphyrin in Patients With Acute Attacks of Porphyria Phase 1