Occurrence of porphyria cutanea tarda during peginterferon/ribavirin therapy for chronic viral hepatitis C

J Hepatol. 2005 Apr;42(4):607-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2004.10.029. Epub 2004 Dec 24.

Abstract

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a metabolic disorder characterized by a reduced hepatic activity of uroporphynogen decarboxylase (URO-D), an enzyme of the heme synthesis. The clinical features of PCT may be brought into light by hepatic injury induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV). A significant association between HCV and PCT is well recognized, although the role of HCV in the appearance of PCT is still debated because confounding factors often coexist, such as alcohol, other viruses, drugs or iron overload (). HCV therapy may improve PCT although PCT was rarely reported as a de novo occurrence during an interferon/ribavirin therapy (Jessner et al. Hepatology 2002;36:1301-1302); here, we describe two such other cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage*
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / etiology*
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / virology
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon alpha-2
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Ribavirin
  • peginterferon alfa-2a