title: Severe pruritus after completing pegylated interferon for hepatitis C.
abstract: Porphyria cutanea tarda is a disease of disordered accumulation of heme, which is needed for biosynthesis of hepatic cytochromes. It most commonly occurs in a sporadic form among persons infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV); however, HIV infection is also a reported risk factor. Hepatic iron overload appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of porphyria cutanea tarda. Common cutaneous findings with porphyria cutanea tarda are vesicles or bullae, milia, and hyperpigmentation in sun-exposed areas. We report a case of porphyria cutanea tarda presenting primarily as severe pruritus in an HIV/HCV-coinfected person after completion of therapy for hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Chistopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Stuart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Ray
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006225:Hand / Q000473:pathology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology*; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons