Porphyria cutanea tarda and peptic ulcer

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Hepatology
• Genetics

Background:

• Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a metabolic disorder.
• Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common gastrointestinal condition.
• The co-occurrence of PCT and PUD requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and characteristics of peptic ulcers in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda.
• To explore potential genetic associations, including blood groups and enzyme activity, with PCT and PUD.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 199 Bulgarian patients diagnosed with PCT.
• Analysis of ulcer incidence, location, and complications.
• Assessment of erythrocyte uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity.
• Blood group and haptoglobin typing in a subset of patients.

Main Results:

• A significantly higher incidence of peptic ulcers (17.59%) was observed in PCT patients compared to the general population (2.52-3.7%).
• Ulcer perforations occurred in 17.1% of PCT patients, exceeding general population rates (1.7-8.5%).
• A higher prevalence of blood group B was noted in PCT patients, particularly those with ulcers.

Conclusions:

• Porphyria cutanea tarda is associated with an increased risk of peptic ulcer disease and its complications.
• Blood group B may be a potential genetic marker for PCT combined with peptic ulcers.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the role of genetic factors in PCT-PUD comorbidity.