title: Iron, genes, and viruses: the porphyria cutanea tarda triple threat.
abstract: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a vesiculobulIous disorder often associated with estrogens, hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcoholism, hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), and human immunodeficiency virus. Hepcidin, a peptide hormone produced by the liver, has been associated with iron metabolism in 3 common precipitating factors for PCT: HCV, HH, and alcohol consumption. We present the case of a patient with erosions and noninflammatory bullae on his hands and forearms who received a diagnosis of PCT. On further examination, the patient was found to be positive for 3 precipitating factors: HCV, an HH gene mutation, and alcohol use. For patients with PCT, it is important to perform phenotypic screening for HCV and HH. Targeting hepcidin with replacement therapy to decrease iron may be a treatment of not only HCV, HH, and alcoholic cirrhosis, but also PCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Van Meter
authors.forename: Kelly R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pittelkow
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D005542:Forearm; D006225:Hand; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins; D007501:Iron