Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Associated With Acute Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a condition of dysregulated heme synthesis that leads to accumulation of photosensitizing precursors with resultant fragility and blistering of the skin. It can be hereditary or acquired and has been known to be associated with hepatic C virus, alcohol, HIV, and estrogen. In this article, we report an unusual presentation of PCT associated with acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in a 57-year-old man. He presented initially to a community hospital with acute onset of epigastric abdominal pain and new-onset ascites. Lipase was elevated. Diagnostic paracentesis was grossly bloody. He was then transferred to our institution for concern for acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis. On arrival, physical examination demonstrated vesicles and bullae with erythematous bases, in different stages of healing seen over the dorsal aspects of both hands with scaling, scarring, and hypopigmentation and hyperpigmentation of the skin. Laboratory evaluation and skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of PCT. Search for an underlying etiology failed to reveal typical predisposing factors. This report illustrates that acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis may be an underlying etiology for PCT.

[The cutaneous porphyrias]. / Porphyries cutanées.

The porphyrias are a group of metabolic disorders resulting from an innate abnormality in haem biosynthesis, and the clinical settings of which vary according to the genetic enzyme abnormality in question. These are genetic disorders with autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance of varying penetrance, and whose clinical expression differs according to the preferential location of haem precursors. Different classifications have been proposed according to genetic inheritance, the enzyme anomaly at issue, and clinical expression. The clinical classification distinguishes between acute porphyria (acute intermittent porphyria, porphyria variegata, hereditary coproporphyria), bullous cutaneous porphyrias (porphyria cutanea tarda, porphyria variegata and hereditary coproporphyria), painful photosensitive acute cutaneous porphyrias (erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked dominant protoporphyria), and rare recessive porphyrias (congenital erythropoietic porphyria, Doss porphyria, hepatoerythropoietic porphyria and harderoporphyria). Treatment depends on the clinical expression of the disorder.

Porphyria cutanea tarda: a case report.

BACKGROUND: The porphyrias are a rare group of metabolic disorders that can either be inherited or acquired. Along the heme biosynthetic pathway, porphyrias can manifest with neurovisceral and/or cutaneous symptoms, depending on the defective enzyme. Porphyria cutanea tarda, the most common type of porphyria worldwide, is caused by a deficiency of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, a crucial enzyme in heme biosynthesis, which results in an accumulation of photosensitive byproducts, such as uroporphyrinogen, which leads to the fragility and blistering of sun-exposed skin. Porphyria cutanea tarda is a condition that affects the liver and skin by reduction and inhibition of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase enzyme in erythrocytes. Areas of skin that are exposed to the sun can generate blisters, hyperpigmentation, and, sometimes, lesions that heal leaving a scar or keratosis. Liver damage might present in a wide range of ways from liver function test abnormalities to hepatocellular carcinoma. The toxic effect of iron plays a role in liver damage pathogenesis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 59-year-old Turkish man presented with hyperpigmented skin lesions, fatigue, and elevated ferritin level and liver function tests. He was diagnosed as having porphyria cutanea tarda after a clinical investigation and treated with phlebotomy. CONCLUSION: Porphyria cutanea tarda is a rare condition of the liver but it must be remembered in a differential diagnosis of liver disease with typical skin involvement to decrease morbidity and health costs with early treatment.

A case of porphyria cutanea tarda in the setting of hepatitis C infection and tobacco usage.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common type of porphyria, presenting in middle-aged patients with a photodistributed vesiculobullous eruption, milia, and scars. Porphyria cutanea tarda occurs in relation to inhibition of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, a key enzyme in the heme biosynthesis pathway. A number of genetic and acquired factors increase susceptibility to PCT by reducing uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity. A handful of other vesiculobullous conditions may mimic PCT both clinically and histologically; therefore, both skin biopsy and laboratory evaluation are helpful in confirming the diagnosis. We report a case of PCT in the setting of cigarette usage and untreated hepatitis C infection.

[Porphyria cutanea tarda. Case report]. / Porfiria cutánea tarda. Caso clínico.

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common type of porphyria: it is characterized by blistering lesions, erosions and crusts on the back of the hands, associated with photosensitivity and facial hypertrichosis. It is produced by acquired or hereditary deficiency of the enzyme UROD, fifth enzyme in the chain of production of the Heme group. This causes accumulation of porphyrins in the liver, which are subsequently mobilized to the skin, where lesions are generated by photosensitivity. This deficiency can be exacerbated by multiple causes. We report a 51-year-old female presenting with the characteristic dermal lesions described above, which disappeared when she discontinued her hormone replacement therapy with estradiol and dydrogesterone. Urinary and blood uroporphyrin and hexacarboxyl porphyrins were elevated and plasma ferritin was 479 ng/ml. Hormone replacement therapy was discontinued and phlebotomies were attempted but not tolerated by the patient. The dermic lesions have not relapsed.

Porfiria cutánea tarda: caso clínico / Porphyria cutanea tarda: case report

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common type of porphyria: it is characterized by blistering lesions, erosions and crusts on the back of the hands, associated with photosensitivity and facial hypertrichosis. It is produced by acquired or hereditary deficiency of the enzyme UROD, fifth enzyme in the chain of production of the Heme group. This causes accumulation of porphyrins in the liver, which are subsequently mobilized to the skin, where lesions are generated by photosensitivity. This deficiency can be exacerbated by multiple causes. We report a 51-year-old female presenting with the characteristic dermal lesions described above, which disappeared when she discontinued her hormone replacement therapy with estradiol and dydrogesterone. Urinary and blood uroporphyrin and hexacarboxyl porphyrins were elevated and plasma ferritin was 479 ng/ml. Hormone replacement therapy was discontinued and phlebotomies were attempted but not tolerated by the patient. The dermic lesions have not relapsed.

Cutaneous Manifestations of Scleroderma and Scleroderma-Like Disorders: a Comprehensive Review.

Scleroderma refers to an autoimmune connective tissue fibrosing disease, including three different subsets: localized scleroderma, limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis, and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis with divergent patterns of organ involvement, autoantibody profiles, management, and prognostic implications. Although systemic sclerosis is considered the disease prototype that causes cutaneous sclerosis, there are many other conditions that can mimic and be confused with SSc. They can be classified into immune-mediated/inflammatory, immune-mediated/inflammatory with abnormal deposit (mucinoses), genetic, drug-induced and toxic, metabolic, panniculitis/vascular, and (para)neoplastic disorders according to clinico-pathological and pathogenetic correlations. This article reviews the clinical presentation with emphasis on cutaneous disease, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment options available for the different forms of scleroderma firstly and for scleroderma-like disorders, including scleromyxedema, scleredema, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, eosinophilic fasciitis, chronic graft-versus-host disease, porphyria cutanea tarda, diabetic stiff-hand syndrome (diabetic cheiroartropathy), and other minor forms. This latter group of conditions, termed also scleroderma mimics, sclerodermiform diseases, or pseudosclerodermas, shares the common thread of skin thickening but presents with distinct cutaneous manifestations, skin histology, and systemic implications or disease associations, differentiating each entity from the others and from scleroderma. The lack of Raynaud's phenomenon, capillaroscopic abnormalities, or scleroderma-specific autoantibodies is also important diagnostic clues. As cutaneous involvement is the earliest, most frequent and characteristic manifestation of scleroderma and sclerodermoid disorders, dermatologists are often the first-line doctors who must be able to promptly recognize skin symptoms to provide the affected patient a correct diagnosis and appropriate management.

Performing therapeutic venesection in a doctor's surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although venesection was widely applied in the past for the treatment of various ailments and diseases, in modern medical practice, it is indicated in very few conditions, namely, hereditary haemochromatosis, polycythaemia and porphyria cutanea tarda. OBJECTIVE: This article briefly reviews the pathophysiology of these conditions, and the rationale and goals of therapeutic venesection as a treatment modality. It also summarises the venesection procedure itself and the considerations for setting up a venesection service in a doctor's surgery. DISCUSSION: Venesection is generally safe and carries few side effects. Before commencing therapeutic venesection, management goals in terms of laboratory parameters should be set for individual patients. These patients should be monitored regularly so that set targets are met and not overshot as to render them anaemic and acutely symptomatic. Venesections should also be performed by persons familiar with the procedure and management of the attendant complications.

Photodermatoses: Kids are not just little people.

Photodermatoses are a group of skin disorders caused by abnormal reaction to ultraviolet radiation. Photodermatoses are divided into four groups: (1) immunologically mediated photodermatoses; (2) chemical- and drug-induced photodermatoses; (3) photoaggravated dermatoses; and (4) hereditary photodermatoses. This contribution discusses differences in the approach and diagnosis of pediatric and adult patients with suspected photodermatoses, focusing on immunologically mediated photodermatoses and chemical- and drug-induced photodermatoses.

Porfiria cutánea tarda familiar: Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Cutaneous porphyria tarda familiar: presentation of a case and review of the literature

La porfiria cutánea tarda (PCT) es una enfermedad metabólica, crónica, que se produce por fallas en el metabolismo del hemo, debidas a deficiencia en la actividad de la enzima URO decarboxilasa. Se produce con más frecuencia en el sexo masculino y en adultos de mediana edad. Se clasifica en adquiridas y familiares, estas últimas de menor frecuencia, de acuerdo al antecedente familiar y al sitio de actividad de la enzima UROD. Las manifestaciones clínicas características son fragilidad cutánea, hipertricosis, fotosensibilidad y ampollas en áreas fotoexpuestas. El tratamiento de la enfermedad consiste en discontinuar los factores desencadenantes, reducir la sobrecarga hepática de hierro a través de flebotomías o el uso de antipalúdicos para movilizar el exceso de porfirinas. Presentamos el caso de una paciente femenina, con antecedente materno de PCT, que presentó manifestaciones clínicas en la adolescencia, asociado a factores desencadenantes y con excelente respuesta al tratamiento con flebotomías (AU)

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a chronic metabolic disease caused by failures in heme metabolism, due to deficiency in the activity of the enzyme URO decarboxylase. Men and middle-age adults are often more affected. According to family history and the site of enzyme activity, PCT is classified in acquired or familial. Clinical features are skin fragility, hypertrichosis, photosensitivity and blisters on sun-exposed areas. Treatment of this disease is based on discontinuing the triggers, reduce liver iron overload trough phlebotomies or the use of antimalarial agents to mobilize excess porphyrins. A case of a female patient with a maternal history of PCT who presented clinical manifestations in adolescence, associated with triggers factors and excellent response to treatment with phlebotomies is reported (AU)