Pseudoporphyria secondary to renal failure

Introduction. Pseudoporphyria is a rare disease associated with chronic renal failure. Symptoms of pseudoporphyria may develop in response to UV exposure and medications. The literature reports cases of pseudoporphyria in patients infected with hepatis C virus, HIV and undergoing dialysis therapy.

Objective. Presentation of the case of a patient with pseudoporphyria and uraemic pruritus, and overview of therapeutic management.

Case report. A 64-year-old male patient, who had been on dialysis for chronic renal failure secondary to type 2 diabetes for the past 11 years, presented with tense bullae located on sun-exposed skin which had persisted for the previous 5 months. The patient was diagnosed with pseudoporphyria, and treatment was prescribed including N-acetylcysteine, chloroquine, paroxetine and mianserin. An improvement in the patient’s clinical condition and a regression of pruritus were achieved.

Conclusions. Patients with renal failure may develop symptoms of pseudoporphyria requiring differentiation from porphyria cutanea tarda.