Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Associated With Lymphosarcoma

Abstract

To the Editor.— Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), in its symptomatic form, characteristically occurs in the middle-aged adult as a photosensitivity disease with bullae. Later, hyperpigmented scars occur primarily on sun-exposed areas of the body. There is an associated overproduction of uroporphyrins and often coproporphyrins in the urine and feces. Since the original description of PCT by Waldenström in 1937,¹ there has been extensive research about the causes of this complex disease. It is well-documented that alcoholism and frank cirrhosis can precede the onset of PCT. More recently, PCT has been associated with estrogen therapy,² altered iron metabolism,^3,4 hexachlorobenzene ingestion,^5,6 and lupus erythematosus.⁷ Recently, we have observed a case of PCT associated with lymphosarcoma and thought that it would be worth reporting. Report of a Case.— A 63-year-old woman was admitted to Albany Medical Center Hospital with a 14-month history of successive crops of bullae on