ACQUIRED CHARACTER OF PORPHYRIA-CUTANEA-T ARDA IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH HEPATITIS-C VIRUS

Background: Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is due to a partial defect o f hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D). In the hereditary fo rm, both hepatic and erythrocytic enzymes are altered, whereas in the acquired form, only the hepatic enzyme fails. There is a high prevalen ce of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with PCT, specially in t hose without family history of the disease. Aim: To study erythrocytic URO-D activity in order to find out wither hepatitis C virus infectio n in associated to the acquired form of PCT or unveils an inactive her editary form. Patients and methods: URO-D activity was measured in red blood cells of normal controls, hepatitis C virus carriers without sy mptoms of PCT and patients with PCT, with and without family history o f the disease, with and without anti hepatitis C virus antibodies. Res ults: URO-D activity was similar in normal controls, patients with chr onic liver disease associated to hepatitis C virus, and in patients wi th PCT without family history of the disease with and without hepatiti s C virus antibodies. URO-D activity was lower in patients with PCT an d family history of the disease, with and without hepatitis C virus an tibodies. Conclusions: PCT in patients with hepatitis C virus infectio n is due to an acquired alteration of hepatic URO-D. Hepatitis C virus does not modify erythrocytic URO-D.