title: Hepatitis C virus in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda: relationship to HCV-genotypes.
abstract: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by an abnormal porphyrin metabolism and typical cutaneous lesions. Recently a strong association between PCT and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been proposed. Studies in south Europe have shown high prevalence (53 to 91%) of HCV markers in patients with PCT. We studied HCV genotypes in 72 subjects: 40 with PCT and 32 patients with chronic liver disease. A high rate of HCV-RNA positive PCT patients (84%) was observed, reflecting an active HCV replication, the genotypes study showed a prevalence of genotype 1b in PCT patients (61.2%). These findings implicate HCV in the aetiology of PCT-associated liver disease suggesting that hepatitis C serological and virological testing could be indicated in all patients with PCT.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University La Sapienza Rome.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rivanera
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lilli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Griso
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Macrì
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mancini
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral