The presence of hyperferremia in many cases of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) has implied that iron may be directly related to abnormal porphyrin metabolism. Very suggestive evidence has been the deleterious effect of iron administered to patients predisposed to or treated for PCT. Conversely, a case is now reported of a patient in whom supplemental iron did not negate the salutary effect of phlebotomy therapy.