Generation of Chemotactic Activity in Serum from Patients with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria and Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

Abstract

THE porphyrias are a group of diseases characterized clinically by photosensitivity and biochemically by elevated levels of porphyrins in erythrocytes, plasma, urine, or feces.^{1 , 2} Within minutes to hours after exposure to sunlight, dermal edema and erythema develop in persons with these disorders. Extensive scarring can occur after repeated attacks. The pathogenesis of these cutaneous lesions is poorly understood.We have previously reported that the addition of exogenous uroporphyrin to normal human serum, followed by irradiation with light containing the absorption spectra of porphyrin compounds (400 to 410 nm) results in activation of the classical pathway of complement and generation of . . .