title: Porphyria cutanea tarda associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Since 1987, about 60 cases of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been reported. The respective roles of HIV and toxic hepatic factor in PCT remain unclear. We report 10 new cases and analyse the following toxic hepatic factors: hepatitis C and B, alcoholism, drugs. The route of HIV transmission to these 10 men were: IV drugs abuse (3), homo/bisexuality (4), heterosexuality (1), and unknown (2). When PCT was diagnosed, their average age was 38 years (29-54) and the HIV-infection had been established for 4.8 years (0.33-9). Seven men had HIV-related symptoms and a CD4+ lymphocyte count below 200/mm3. Cutaneous signs and urinary porphyrin count were characteristic. Alcohol abuse was present in 8/10 patients. AST, ALT and/or gamma GT were high in 9/10 patients; 5/10 patients had HCV antibodies (4 were HCV-PCR positive). HBs antigenemia was negative among the 5/8 patients with HBV antibodies; 10/10 patients took prescribed hepatotoxic drugs. Our series confirms the presence of toxic hepatic factors in PCT of HIV-positive patients. Hepatitis C, alcoholism and hepatotoxic drug consumption seem to be triggers for the appearance of PCT in HIV-positive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Besançon University Hospital, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drobacheff
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Derancourt
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Van Landuyt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devred
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Wazieres
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cribier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grosieux
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kalis
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laurent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors