Abstract:
Many patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) have been reported to be hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers, suggesting that HCV infection plays a role in the pathogenesis of this type of porphyria. In this study, we report a patient with chronic hepatitis C-associated PCT. Therapy with interferon (IFN) transiently decreased HCV RNA levels, but levels of urinary porphyrins and serum transaminases and ferritin remained unchanged. Serum ferritin and urinary porphyrin levels improved after phlebotomy, but this therapy was not effective in improving serum transaminase levels. Although a physiopathological association between HCV infection and PCT has been suggested previously, IFN was not effective in this patient. The transient decrease in HCV RNA levels was a factor independent of porphyrin metabolism.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: February 8, 1999 / Accepted: May 28, 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Furuta, M., Kaito, M., Gabazza, E. et al. Ineffective interferon treatment of chronic hepatitis C-associated porphyria cutanea tarda, but with a transient decrease in HCV RNA levels. J Gastroenterol 35, 60–62 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009978
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00009978