PROTOCOL OUTLINE: Patients undergo a complete medical evaluation and documentation of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) including history, physical examination, standard clinical laboratory tests and porphyrin studies. Alcohol history, smoking, liver dysfunction and its etiology, estrogen use, and family history of PCT are investigated and recorded. Patients complete a questionnaire to assess intake of vitamin C and other nutrients.

Iron status is assessed by serum ferritin, Fe and Fe binding capacity, and by the number of phlebotomies needed to reduce ferritin to the target level. A blood sample is tested for the hemochromatosis (HC) gene to determine whether each patient has 0, 1, or 2 copies of the HC mutation.

Serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody and HCV RNA are measured. Standard liver function tests and liver biopsy are done if clinically indicated. A fasting blood level of ascorbic acid is obtained. Blood clearance of caffeine and antipyrine, and urinary excretion of caffeine and chlorzoxazone metabolites are determined by breath tests or measurements in blood or saliva. Genotyping for polymorphic genes for enzymes that metabolize foreign chemicals, including cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP) and glutathione transferases are completed. Following completion of the above studies, patients undergo individualized standard treatment either by serial phlebotomies or low dose chloroquine. Patients with HCV are also treated with interferon alfa-2b. Patients are followed after treatment, at which time initial studies are repeated.