Abnormal urinary coproporphyrin levels in patients infected by hepatitis C virus with or without human immunodeficiency virus. A study of 177 patients

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda, Hepatitis C, Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase and Mutations of HFE Gene

“…This indicates that HCV infection is very unlikely to decrease the activity of erythrocytic UROD. This finding is consistent with our previous results that showed that HCV infected patients have slightly modified porphyrin urinary excretion, which only exceptionally corresponds to the PCT profile [4]. Other studies also showed that preclinical PCT is rare in HCV+ patients [33].…”

“…Despite the high prevalence of HCV, neither the HCV genotype nor the severity or duration of HCV infections are significantly associated with the course or clinical presentation of PCT. Moreover, infection by HIV and/or HCV is not sufficient to induce the characteristic metabolic changes that lead to the cutaneous signs of PCT [4]. In fact, changes in urinary porphyrin excretion in HCV-infected patients have been reported, but they may be absent [5] or moderate in early infection stages [6].…”

“…In fact, changes in urinary porphyrin excretion in HCV-infected patients have been reported, but they may be absent [5] or moderate in early infection stages [6]. Urinary porphyrins in HCV infection do not have the typical PCT profile, but are rather similar to the chronic hepatic porphyria profile [7], except in very rare cases [4, 8] where patients have a PCT profile and no clinical signs of the disease. The link between HCV and PCT is not yet fully understood, and is therefore probably indirect.…”

Role of viral infection in porphyria cutanea tarda

“…A study of urinary porphyrin levels of 177 patients was reported from Strasbourg, France: 61 were HIV+ patients, 56 HCV+, 60 HIV+/HCV+, and 51 HIV-/HCV-controls (13). The predominant elevated porphyrin was coproporphyrin; the highest levels were observed in the +/+ group, followed by the HIV-/HCV+ and HIV+/HCVgroups.…”

Prevalence of photosensitivity in chronic hepatitis C virus patients and its relation to serum and urinary porphyrins

“…This suggests the direct role of the virus itself as an initiating factor for elevation of porphyrins. However, some authors could not find a direct viral effect on iron or porphyrins metabolism (26) and suggested that the virus seems to influence other metabolic parameters in PCT patients (27) while others confirmed the role of HCV virus in initiating the disturbance in the porphyrins metabolism (21). It was suggested that the infection may be a major triggering factor but it cannot precipitate overt PCT (26).…”