Treatment of recurrent allograft dysfunction with intravenous hematin after liver transplantation for erythropoietic protoporphyria.

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare inherited disorder of the heme biosynthetic pathway in which toxic levels of protoporphyrins often precipitate in the liver, leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, and the need for liver transplantation (OLT). Because the underlying enzyme defect in EPP is bone marrow derived, the risk for recurrent EPP allograft dysfunction is high. Although plasmapheresis may ameliorate acute allograft disease, strategies to maintain disease remission are needed. A 59-year-old man who underwent OLT for hepatic EPP experienced increased bilirubin and aminotransferases on postoperative day 700. Allograft biopsy demonstrated recurrent EPP. He was managed initially with plasmapheresis, hypertransfusion, and infusions of i.v. hematin. After normalization of liver tests, the hematin infusions have been given intermittently, are well tolerated, and associated with normal allograft function for nearly 2 years. This is the first case of the use of hematin given post-OLT to help achieve and maintain remission of allograft EPP disease.