Desferrioxamine in the treatment of porphyria cutanea tarda: ineffectiveness of intramuscular administration.

Four patients suffering from porphyria cutanea tarda received intramuscularly 10-15 g per month of desferrioxamine for periods ranging between 21 and 50 months. Porphyrin excretion was serially analyzed during this treatment. Desferrioxamine administration did not induce remission of the disease, which was subsequently achieved after treatment either with phlebotomies or chloroquine. Therefore, chronic intramuscular administration of desferrioxamine alone is ineffective in porphyria cutanea tarda.