Porphyria cutanea tarda and chronic lymphoid leukemia

A case of a familial porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT-II) is reported in which the clinically overt form of PCT was provoked by factors relating to chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL). Typical lesions of PCT developed on a 55-year-old woman after several blood transfusions and chlorambucil treatment. Besides these provoking factors, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was diagnosed. Erythrocyte uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity was about 50% of normal in the patient and in her two children. This case supports the suggestion that development of PCT in patients with hematological disorders is more than coincidental but may in fact be provoked by exogenous factors relating to the treatment of leukemia.