Treatment of porphyria cutanea tarda with chloroquine and phlebotomy

Treatment of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) with chloroquine risks serious side-effects so we have combined it with phlebotomy. One to four venesections were performed before the administration of chloroquine in 10 PCT patients. Equally high excretion of urinary porphyrins was achieved but the side-effects were reduced. Chloroquine may be used as a provocative diagnostic test for patients with a questionably latent PCT but this is safe if phlebotomy is performed beforehand.