Archive

Winter 2008, Vol. 16 No. 4

Hong Kong J. Dermatol. Venereol. (2008) 16, 211-215

Case Report

A man with porphyria cutanea tarda presenting with recurrent blistering over hands and forearms

SY Wong 黃曉毅

Abstract
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a rare metabolic disorder due to an inherited or acquired deficiency in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase, the fifth enzyme in the haem synthesis pathway. We report a 57-year-old gentleman who presented with three months history of recurrent blister formation over the sun-exposed areas of his arms and forearms. Elevated porphyrins were detected in his urine and skin biopsy showed characteristic features of PCT.