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Effective control of patients with porphyria cutanea tarda by measuring plasma uroporphyrin
Author(s) -
ADJAROV D.,
KERIMOVA M.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1991.tb00369.x
Subject(s) - porphyria cutanea tarda , porphyria , medicine , gastroenterology , dermatology
Summary The clinical value of a very rapid spectrofluorometric method for the determination of plasma uroporphyrin levels was studied during follow‐up of 122 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). Four‐hundred and eight measurements were carried out within a 3‐year period. In active PCT plasma uroporphyrin varied between 15 and 448 nmol/1 (normal 0–1.4). A high correlation was seen between elevated levels of uroporphyrin in the plasma and urine in new cases ( r =0.72, n = 23) and relapses ( r =0.92, n = 37). A parallel course between these variables was noted during the treatment of 31 patients. The correlation was less pronounced ( r = 0.42) in remission, i.e. in those cases with urinary uroporphyrin levels lower than 240 nmol/24 h. However, only in nine of 249 measurements taken in remission did plasma uroporphyrin exceed 15 nmol/1. In six of these cases a biochemical relapse had occurred at the next follow‐up measurement as judged by an increase of uroporphyrin in the urine. It is suggested that treatment of new cases and relapses should continue until plasma uroporphyrin drops under 10 nmol/1. Values between 15 and 23 nmol/1 in individuals already treated raise the suspicion of relapse and should be rechecked in the near future. Retreatment is necessary when the levels exceed 23 nmol/ 1. The use of the method is recommended as a simple and effective way for monitoring the progress of patients with PCT.