This topic by itself typically describes me !
If you asked me what's the cause of Porphyria Cutanea tarda ?
I'd answer without thinking : Uro-porphyrin-ogen Decarboxylase enzyme deficiency !
what it should be manifested by ?
photo sensitivity and skin ulcers !
yet if I got a question on an Examination on this topic , I'd -usually get it wrong or may be even never think about it in the differential , because usually it would be just a simple picture of Multiple skin ulcers !
So how you may get it Right ?!
when you mention photo sensitivity always think of Sun-exposed areas , particularly in our case Back of the hands and forearms (if you google for pictures of Pophyria Cutanea Tarda you'd almost find all pictures are of ulcers on the back of the hands !)
remeber ! they are NON-healing ulcers!
http://www.dartmouth.edu
and when you have a history of photo-sensitivity with a history of Alcoholism , OCPs, liver diseases (HCV- haemochromatosis), then Porphria Cutanea tarda have to jump in your mind !
How to Manage :
Stop Alcohol or any sort of estrogen intake
sunscreens
Phlebotomy (as you may notice there should be an associated Iron Overload )
Chloroquine, YES ! the antimalarial agent !
If you asked me what's the cause of Porphyria Cutanea tarda ?
I'd answer without thinking : Uro-porphyrin-ogen Decarboxylase enzyme deficiency !
what it should be manifested by ?
photo sensitivity and skin ulcers !
yet if I got a question on an Examination on this topic , I'd -usually get it wrong or may be even never think about it in the differential , because usually it would be just a simple picture of Multiple skin ulcers !
So how you may get it Right ?!
when you mention photo sensitivity always think of Sun-exposed areas , particularly in our case Back of the hands and forearms (if you google for pictures of Pophyria Cutanea Tarda you'd almost find all pictures are of ulcers on the back of the hands !)
remeber ! they are NON-healing ulcers!
and when you have a history of photo-sensitivity with a history of Alcoholism , OCPs, liver diseases (HCV- haemochromatosis), then Porphria Cutanea tarda have to jump in your mind !
How to Manage :
Stop Alcohol or any sort of estrogen intake
sunscreens
Phlebotomy (as you may notice there should be an associated Iron Overload )
Chloroquine, YES ! the antimalarial agent !
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