[Porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatitis B and C virus infection].

Porphyria cutanea tarda is a metabolic disorder caused by reduced hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity characterized by skin lesions and liver damage. The high frequency of liver histological damage in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda led us to study hepatitis B and C viral infection which has a striking prevalence in southern Europe. We attempt here to expose different pathophysiological hypotheses: is viral hepatitis a triggering factor precipiting latent decreased uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity or does it directly induce the enzyme deficiency?