| Abstract: | Recent reports have revealed the high prevalence of serological markers of viral hepatitis in porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). We present two cases of PCT associated with hepatitis C and discuss the relationship between PCT and viral hepatitis. Case 1: A 50-year-old Japanese male noticed blisters, erosions, and fragility on sun-exposed areas of his skin in November of 1990. He had no history of excessive alcohol intake. He had been taking analgesics for eighteen years. Case 2: A 64-year-old Japanese male was referred in October of 1989 because of pigmentation on sun-exposed areas of his skin. He had been drinking alcohol excessively for 43 years. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody was present in each case. Tests for the HCV antibody and hepatitis B serological markers were run in 5 other patients. HCV antibody was present in 3 of them. The two cases negative for the HCV antibody exhibited the hepatitis B antibody. We speculated that viral hepatitis infection may play an important role in precipitating PCT in cases with a history of a long term excessive intake of alcohol or chemicals. |
