title: Acute neuropathy mimicking porphyria induced by aminolevulinic acid during photodynamic therapy.
abstract: An 82-year-old man developed severe, acute, predominantly motor polyneuropathy, signs of autonomic involvement, and skin changes following aminolevulinic acid (ALA) administration. The compound was used as a prodrug for photodynamic therapy of Barrett's esophagitis. Changes were observed in various parameters of the heme pathway. The case reported represents a rare response to ALA treatment, resembling an acute attack of hepatic porphyria with neurological features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6, Weizman Street, Tel Aviv 642 39, Israel.
authors.forename: Constantin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sylantiev
authors.forename: Nili
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schoenfeld
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mamet
authors.forename: Galina B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Groozman
authors.forename: Vivian E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Drory
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid