Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Information - picture, symptom, causes, treatment of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

What is Porphyria Cutanea Tarda ?

Porphyria cutanea tarda is the most common type of porphyria. Cases are sporadic or hereditary. The disease is associated with ingestion of certain medications (eg, estrogens), and liver disease from alcoholism or hepatitis C. In patients with liver disease, hemosiderosis is often present.

Differential Diagnosis of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

Skin lesions identical to those of porphyria cutanea tarda may be seen in patients being maintained on dialysis and with the ingestion of certain medications (tetracyclines and NSAIDs, especially naproxen). In this so-called pseudoporphyria, the biopsy results are identical to those associated with porphyria cutanea tarda, but urine porphyrins are normal.

Symptom of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

Patients complain of painless blistering and fragility of the skin of the dorsal surfaces of the hands. Facial hypertrichosis and hyperpigmentation are common.

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Home Treatment -

Stopping all triggering medications and substantially reducing or stopping alcohol consumption may alone lead to improvement. Phlebotomy without oral iron supplementation at a rate of one unit every 2-4 weeks will gradually lead to improvement. Very low dose antimalarials (as low as 200 mg of hydroxychloroquine twice weekly) will increase the excretion of porphyrins, improving the skin disease. Treatment is continued until the patient is asymptomatic. Urine porphyrins may be monitored.

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Prognosis

Most patients improve with treatment. Sclerodermoid skin lesions may develop on the trunk, scalp, and face.

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