Plasma porphyrins among end stage renal disease patients and cutaneous symptoms- is there still an association?

Introduction: Several abnormalities of porphyrin metabolism leading to Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT) have been described in early studies of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) patients, with a reported prevalence of 5-18%. We aimed to evaluate porphyrin levels and correlation to skin manifestations in modern dialysis era.

Methods: The study cohort included adult hemodialysis patients from a single center tertiary medical center. All patients underwent a full skin examination, completed the Dermatology Life Quality Index questioner, and provided a blood sample for porphyrin levels assessment.

Results: A total of 94 adult hemodialysis patients were recruited to the study. No clinical PCT was diagnosed. Porphyrin levels did not correlate with any clinical or dialysis quality parameters.

Conclusions: In modern hemodialysis era, possibly due to improved porphyrins' metabolism and dialysis removal, PCT is much less prevalent among hemodialysis patients than previously reported in the past.