title: Acute scleritis in porphyria cutanea tarda.
abstract: We examined three patients who had dermatologic and biochemical manifestations of porphyria cutanea tarda and localized thinning or excavation in the sun-exposed interpalpebral sclera, adjacent to the cornea. All three patients had signs of acute scleritis. The acute scleritis responded to oral indomethacin in one patient, but systemic corticosteroids were required to control the inflammation in the other two patients. Phlebotomy, protection from sunlight, and refraining from alcohol played an important part in the treatment of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape, South Africa.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001815:Bloodletting; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011164:Porphyrias / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000652:urine; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015423:Scleritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000652:urine; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013695:Temperance; D014578:Uroporphyrins / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D011166:Porphyrins; D014578:Uroporphyrins; D011239:Prednisolone; D007213:Indomethacin