Observations:
The role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for the clinical presentation of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) remains conflicting. HCV may alter the metabolism of porphyrin in genetically predisposed individuals, and/or the treatment of HCV can trigger PCT. Here in this report, a case of PCT that introduced the diagnosis of HCV is presented. We suggest that HCV infection should be searched in all patients with PCT.
Keywords: porphyria cutanea tarda, hepatitis C virus, chronic hepatitis