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 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.