Type I (sporadic) porphyria cutanea tarda in a hemodialysis patient: a case report.

A hemodialysis patient with hepatitis C virus infection developed painful blisters on her hands that burst spontaneously. She was found to have serum porphyrin levels >2000 nmol/L. A punch biopsy revealed subepidermal blistering with festooning of dermal papillae associated with a mixed inflammatory infiltrate. Based on the clinical, biochemical, and histologic findings, a diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda was made. Treatment was started with twice-weekly phlebotomy and oral hydroxychloroquine and significant clinical improvement resulted.