Low-dose hydroxychloroquine is as effective as phlebotomy in treatment of patients with porphyria cutanea tarda.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is an iron-related disorder caused by reduced activity of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase; it can be treated by phlebotomy or low doses of hydroxychloroquine. We performed a prospective pilot study to compare the efficacy and safety of these therapies. METHODS: We analyzed data from 48 consecutive patients with well-documented PCT to characterize susceptibility factors; patients were treated with phlebotomy (450 mL, every 2 weeks until they had serum ferritin levels of 20 ng/mL) or low-dose hydroxychloroquine (100 mg orally, twice weekly, until at least 1 month after they had normal plasma levels of porphyrin). We compared the time required to achieve a normal plasma porphyrin concentration (remission, the primary outcome) for 17 patients treated with phlebotomy and 13 treated with hydroxychloroquine. RESULTS: The time to remission was a median 6.9 months for patients who received phlebotomy and 6.1 months for patients treated with hydroxychloroquine treatment (6.7 and 6.5 mo for randomized patients), a difference that was not significant (log-rank, P = .06 and P = .95, respectively). The sample size was insufficient to confirm noninferiority of hydroxychloroquine treatment (hazard ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-5.06) for all patients. Patients who received hydroxychloroquine had substantially better compliance. There were no significant side effects of either treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxychloroquine, 100 mg twice weekly, is as effective and safe as phlebotomy in patients with PCT, although noninferiority was not established. Given these results, higher-dose regimens of hydroxychloroquine, which have more side effects, do not seem justified. Compliance was better and projected costs were lower for hydroxychloroquine than phlebotomy treatment. Long-term studies are needed to compare durability of response. ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01573754.

Porphyria cutanea tarda in the setting of renal failure. Response to renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) and similar vesiculobullous disorders have been described with increased frequency in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing long-term hemodialysis. Descriptions of over 20 cases of hemodialysis-related PCT have appeared in the literature. The precise cause of PCT in chronic renal failure is unknown, and the treatment of PCT occurring in this setting is complex and often ineffective. OBSERVATIONS: We describe a patient who developed hemodialysis-related PCT, which, in this patient, was refractory to various treatment modalities. This patient eventually went on to receive a renal transplant and all symptoms of PCT resolved with normalization of urinary porphyrin levels. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that in PCT refractory to the currently available treatment modalities occurring after the development of chronic renal failure, renal transplantation is indicated as a potentially efficacious therapy.

Porphyria: varied ocular manifestations and management.

On review of past 10 years medical records, we could find four typical cases of porphyria with rare ocular manifestations. Cases 1, 2 and 4 have presented with features suggestive of acute scleritis. Based on clinical, biochemical and dermatological evaluation, all these three cases were diagnosed to have congenital erythropoietic porphyria. Case 1 was initially managed with scleral patch graft which on subsequent melt was managed with double layered amniotic membrane grafting along with conjunctival advancement and lateral paramedian tarsorrhaphy in both the eyes. Cases 2 and 4 were managed conservatively with artificial tear drops and general protective measures. Case 3 was presented with multiple failed grafts due to repeated ulceration and infection. Owing to multiple failed grafts, Boston keratoprosthesis was done and the patient is doing well with stable kertaoprosthesis at the last follow-up visit.