Heme arginate: effects on hemostasis

Abstract

Hematin, the drug used for acute porphyric attacks, has been shown to cause disturbances in hemostasis, mainly because of its degradation products. Lately a new heme compound, heme arginate, has been developed for the treatment of porphyrias. In experimental animal studies as well as in clinical use it has proved to be well tolerated. To find out whether heme arginate has any effects on hemostasis we have studied a number of parameters of coagulation and fibrinolysis after a heme arginate infusion in seven healthy volunteers. All parameters studied remained practically unchanged except the coagulation factor X, which showed a transient, insignificant decrease during the maximal heme concentration. We believe that the lack of side effects is due to a better stability of heme arginate, the degradation rates being 1% for heme arginate and 61% for hematin in four hours. Our data favor the use of heme arginate in acute porphyrias as well as in other deficiency states of heme.