[Association of porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatitis C virus].
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is caused by reduced activity of hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. However extrinsic factors such as alcohol abuse and drug intake are required for the clinical manifestation of the disease. Hepatitis C virus antibodies have been detected in a high percentage of patients with PCT. Hepatitis C virus is probably the main pathogenetic factor of liver damage in patients with PCT.


OBJECTIVE
To study the association between hepatitis C virus and PCT in our patients with PCT.


METHODS
We have investigated six patients diagnosed of PCT in order to detect the presence of hepatitis C virus and other possible causes of the disease.


RESULTS
We have found that 66% of our patients had hepatitis C virus antibodies, 50% ethanol abuse, of which 2/3 presented hepatitis C virus antibodies, and one case of HIV.
Martín-Vivaldi Martínez
R
R
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada.
Espinosa Aguilar
M D
MD
Sánchez Sanchéz-Vizcaíno
J
J
Quintero Fuentes
D
D
Nogueras López
F
F
López de Hierro Ruiz
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D001706:Biopsy; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral
Asociación entre porfiria cutánea tarda y virus de la hepatitis C.