Hepatology Highlights

Abstract

The EXPLORE cohort is a multinational, prospective cohort of acute hepatic porphyria used to examine disease activity and clinical management in patients who experience recurrent attacks. Gouya et al. report on 112 patients enrolled over 2 years who were followed for at least 6 months, of whom 98 (88%) experienced a total of 483 attacks, 86 of which required treatment and/or hemin administration. By month 12 of the study, it was found that enrolled subjects spent an average of 5 nights in the hospital along with an average of 3.6 visits to the emergency department, had diminished quality of life, and 68% had decreased full-time employment. These findings indicate the need for improved therapies that can both reduce and lessen the severity of acute attacks. (Hepat ology 2020;71:1546-1558).