title: Hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations and response to chloroquine in porphyria cutanea tarda.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of hemochromatosis (HFE) gene mutations, which are associated with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), in the therapeutic response to chloroquine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed a database (Excel version 2001 [Microsoft Excel, Redmond, Wash]; date range of search, 1985-1999) of chloroquine-treated patients with PCT on whether HFE mutations (C282Y and H63D) might have influenced the clinical response, urinary porphyrin excretion, liver enzyme activities, and serum iron markers. Serum samples and corresponding complete sets of data before and after therapy were available in 62 of 207 patients with PCT who were treated exclusively with chloroquine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  For treatment, low-dose chloroquine diphosphate, 125 to 250 mg twice weekly, was used during a median time of 16 months (range, 12-26 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 62 German patients with PCT, 37 (60%) carries HFE mutations. Chloroquine therapy was accompanied by clinical remission and reduced urinary porphyrin excretion (P<.001) in the 24 patients (39%) with HFE wild type as well as in 35 HFE heterozygous patients with PCT (56%). Decreases of serum iron markers following chloroquine therapy were limited to patients with PCT and HFE wild type. All patients homozygous for the C282Y mutation (3 [5%] of 62) had high serum iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation and failed to respond to chloroquine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The therapeutic response to chloroquine was not compromised by C282Y heterozygosity and compound heterozygosity of HFE mutations. Because HFE C282Y homozygotes (+/+) did not respond to chloroquine and a decrease in serum iron concentration was limited to patients with PCT and HFE wild type, phlebotomy should be first-line therapy in patients with PCT and HFE mutations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine II, Klinikum Chemnitz, Germany. u.stoelzel@skc.de
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stölzel
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Köstler
authors.forename: Detlef
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuppan
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wollina
authors.forename: Manfred O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Doss
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wittekind
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tannapfel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000652:urine; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D011166:Porphyrins; D014168:Transferrin; D002738:Chloroquine; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron