A 32-year-old man has suffered from chronic blistering and scarring of his skin following periods of unprotected exposure to sunlight. In the course of taking a history from the patient his doctor learns that the symptoms that occur following sun exposure are worse when he has been drinking heavily and smoking. The doctor orders blood and urine tests which show a high accumulation of uroporphyrin. Which of the following disorders would best explain the symptoms and clinical signs manifesting in this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is characterized by photosensitivity, blistering, and scarring of the skin, especially after sun exposure. It is associated with high levels of uroporphyrin in the urine and can be exacerbated by alcohol consumption and smoking. PCT is the most common porphyria. Symptoms of PCT include cutaneous involvement and liver abnormalities. Cutaneous features include chronic blistering lesions on sun-exposed skin. These lesions lead to skin thickening, scarring, and calcification. Symptoms usually develop in adults and are exacerbated by excess hepatic iron, alcohol consumption, and induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes as occurs in smokers.

A 32-Year-Old Man Has Suffered from Chronic Blistering and Scarring