Clinical Trial: Effect of Isoniazid on Protoporphyrin Levels in Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

Study Status: Terminated
Recruit Status: Terminated
Study Type: Interventional




Official Title: Quantification of the Effects of Isoniazid Treatment on Erythrocyte and Plasma Protoporphyrin IX Concentration and Plasma Aminolevulinic Acid in Patients With Erythropoietic Prot

Brief Summary:

In erythropoietic protoporphyria there is an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) in the plasma and liver. The reason it builds up is either the last step to make heme, insertion of iron into PPIX, is rate limiting or there is an increase in activity in the first step in the heme pathway.

It may be possible to decrease the amount of PPIX made and see a decrease in symptoms. The first step to make heme is the key step in the pathway and it uses vitamin B6 as a cofactor. If the investigators can limit the amount of vitamin B6 the investigators can possibly reduce the activity of this rate limiting step. With decreased activity of the enzyme it may be possible for the body to utilize all the PPIX that is made so that none builds up.