Pathogenesis of Cutaneous Photosensitivity in Porphyria

Abstract

FOR over sixty years light and porphyrins have been thought to be involved in induction of the cutaneous lesions of porphyria. As early as 1898 Anderson¹ suggested that porphyrins might be associated with the abnormal sensitivity to light of 2 patients with hydroa aestivale as manifested by recurrent bullous lesions of the uncovered parts of the body. Ten years later Hausmann² described the photodynamic action of hematoporphyrin and showed that this compound may act as a photosensitizer for red blood cells and paramecia; subsequently, he induced photosensitivity in albino mice with hematoporphyrin. In 1920 Arzt and Hausmann³ reported that in . . .