Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case report

A 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis and iron supplementation presented to our hospital with painful blisters, fragile skin, and changes to skin pigmentation on the dorsal side of both upper and lower limbs. Skin biopsy findings and an increase in urine porphyrins confi...

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Main Authors: Farjah H AlGahtani, Ruth Stuckey, Fatima S Alqahtany
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2020-02-01
Series:SAGE Open Medical Case Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X20907815
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author Farjah H AlGahtani
Ruth Stuckey
Fatima S Alqahtany
author_facet Farjah H AlGahtani
Ruth Stuckey
Fatima S Alqahtany
author_sort Farjah H AlGahtani
collection DOAJ
description A 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis and iron supplementation presented to our hospital with painful blisters, fragile skin, and changes to skin pigmentation on the dorsal side of both upper and lower limbs. Skin biopsy findings and an increase in urine porphyrins confirmed the diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda. Upon examination, extremely high serum ferritin levels (6000 µg/L) suggested iron overload. Oral iron supplementation was immediately discontinued, and the patient received treatment with the iron chelators deferoxamine, 10 mg/kg/day intravenously for 4 days, and deferasirox, 540 mg/day orally. After a 4-month follow-up, ferritin levels were normal (97.7 µg/L) and the cutaneous manifestations of porphyria cutanea tarda had improved. Complete remission has been maintained for the last 2 years, and the patient’s liver and heart function are normal. This case of porphyria cutanea tarda caused by secondary hemosiderosis highlights the potential toxicity of iron accumulation as a result of excessive iron supplementation. Although not approved for the treatment of patients on hemodialysis, we report the efficacy of deferasirox without any adverse effects in this case. We also stress the importance of the close monitoring of serum iron levels in kidney dialysis—and indeed all iron-supplemented—patients to avoid potential hepatic, cardiac, and endocrine damage.
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spelling doaj.art-f45133a4cb294c03b4b7e1e1deaf09b32022-12-22T03:00:37ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medical Case Reports2050-313X2020-02-01810.1177/2050313X20907815Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case reportFarjah H AlGahtani0Ruth Stuckey1Fatima S Alqahtany2Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaHematology Department, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Las Palmas, SpainPathology, Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaA 68-year-old woman with chronic kidney disease receiving dialysis and iron supplementation presented to our hospital with painful blisters, fragile skin, and changes to skin pigmentation on the dorsal side of both upper and lower limbs. Skin biopsy findings and an increase in urine porphyrins confirmed the diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda. Upon examination, extremely high serum ferritin levels (6000 µg/L) suggested iron overload. Oral iron supplementation was immediately discontinued, and the patient received treatment with the iron chelators deferoxamine, 10 mg/kg/day intravenously for 4 days, and deferasirox, 540 mg/day orally. After a 4-month follow-up, ferritin levels were normal (97.7 µg/L) and the cutaneous manifestations of porphyria cutanea tarda had improved. Complete remission has been maintained for the last 2 years, and the patient’s liver and heart function are normal. This case of porphyria cutanea tarda caused by secondary hemosiderosis highlights the potential toxicity of iron accumulation as a result of excessive iron supplementation. Although not approved for the treatment of patients on hemodialysis, we report the efficacy of deferasirox without any adverse effects in this case. We also stress the importance of the close monitoring of serum iron levels in kidney dialysis—and indeed all iron-supplemented—patients to avoid potential hepatic, cardiac, and endocrine damage.https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X20907815
spellingShingle Farjah H AlGahtani
Ruth Stuckey
Fatima S Alqahtany
Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case report
SAGE Open Medical Case Reports
title Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case report
title_full Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case report
title_fullStr Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case report
title_full_unstemmed Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case report
title_short Secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient: A case report
title_sort secondary hemosiderosis presented by porphyria cutanea tarda in a kidney dialysis patient a case report
url https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313X20907815
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AT fatimasalqahtany secondaryhemosiderosispresentedbyporphyriacutaneatardainakidneydialysispatientacasereport