Sporadic Porphyria Cutanea Tarda as the Initial Manifestation of Hereditary Hemochromatosis
- PMID: 32309465
- PMCID: PMC7145215
- DOI: 10.14309/crj.0000000000000247
Sporadic Porphyria Cutanea Tarda as the Initial Manifestation of Hereditary Hemochromatosis
Abstract
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a skin disorder characterized by abnormal heme synthesis. We present a 45-year-old man with intermittent skin lesions recurring annually for years. Skin biopsy and measurement of serum heme precursors confirmed a diagnosis of PCT. He had persistently elevated alanine and aspartate transferase. He was referred to hematology and had genetic testing with iron studies which also revealed hereditary hemochromatosis (HH). Therapeutic phlebotomy was initiated, which led to resolution of iron overload and skin lesions. We highlight the associated conditions of PCT and HH, their common therapy of phlebotomy, and initial manifestations of HH.
© 2019 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American College of Gastroenterology.
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