Direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C virus induce a rapid clinical and biochemical remission of porphyria cutanea tarda

Abstract

Sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is strongly associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in our population. 1-4 Therapeutic options for PCT include phlebotomies and low-dose 4-aminoquinolines, which show high rates of disease remission. However, some patients with PCT may present frequent relapses attributable to resistance, intolerability or poor adherence to conventional treatments and/or persistence of risk factors. In 2014, we reported the first case of a patient with active PCT and HCV-HIV coinfection cured with direct antiviral agents (DAAs).5 Herein, we present a cohort of patients demonstrating rapid and persistent remission of PCT with DAA regimes administered for HCV infection.