Sporadic late cutaneous porphyria associated estrogen use: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Porphyria is the designate of an enzyme group of diseases that affect the synthesis of heme. There are seven types
of porphyria, which differ by the enzyme affected. Porphyria cutanea tarda is caused for the deficiency of the
enzyme uroporphyrinogen descarboxylase, generating skin expression disorders and liver patients. Factors such as
estrogens, alcohol, HIV, HCV, getting together with iron can cause the disease is mainly diagnosed by urinalysis.
The treatment is done by phlebotomy and administration of chloroquine. In that case related the patient, 54 years
old, presented blister on his left hand and after a some months was diagnosed tarda cutaneous porphyria, through
histopathology and altered abnormal urinary elimination uroporphyrin. The probable factor precipitating was
estrogen, due to elimination of possible causes for other factors. After treatment with chloroquine and elimination
of the causal factor, there was remission of the disease.