To the Editor.—
The porphyrias are a group of disorders caused by biosynthetic abnormalities in heme synthesis, which result in an accumulation of precursor substrates. Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is the most common form of porphyria, and is caused by a reduced activity of the enzyme uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase.1As the number of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) cases have increased, so too have the legion presentations, manifestations, and complications associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Report of a Case.—
A 40-year-old adopted bisexual man, with a history of chronic anemia, intravenous drug abuse, and alcoholic binge drinking for more than ten years, presented for evaluation of fatigue, malaise, diarrhea of a few weeks' duration, pruritus, and skin lesions that had been present for several years. He had been transfusion dependent, having received at least 30 transfusions over the past three years. Physical examination revealed a cachectic, middle-aged,