Porphyria Cutanea Tarda and Relationship to HCV Genotypes

TITLE: Hepatitis C virus in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda: Relationship to HCV-genotypes

Abstract:
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by an abnormal porphyrin metabolism and typical cutaneous lesions. Recently a strong association between PCT and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been proposed. Studies in south Europe have shown high prevalence (53 to 91%) of HCV markers in patients with PCT. We studied HCV genotypes in 72 subjects: 40 with PCT and 32 patients with chronic liver disease.

A high rate of HCV-RNA positive PCT patients (84%) was observed, reflecting an active HCV replication, the genotypes study showed a prevalence of genotype Ib in PCT patients (61.2%). These findings implicate HCV in the aetiology of PCT-associated liver disease suggesting that hepatitis C serological and virological testing could be indicated in all patients with PCT.

AUTHOR: Rivanera D, Lilli D, Griso D, Macri A, Mancini C; SOURCE: MICROBIOLOGICA 21: (4) 329-334 OCT 1998

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