The Effect of Replenishment of Iron Stores After Phlebotomy Therapy in Porphyria Cutanea Tarda

In a study from 1971, researchers investigated the effects of replenishing iron stores after phlebotomy therapy in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda. The study included 5 patients, 4 men and 1 woman, who had undergone phlebotomy-induced remission. Iron stores were replenished using oral iron sulphate in 4 patients and intravenous iron dextrin in 1 patient. Following iron replenishment, all patients experienced a biochemical relapse, although the skin disease remained in remission except for one woman who experienced increased facial hair growth. Subsequent phlebotomy led to biochemical remission in all patients and resolved the hypertrichosis in the woman. The study concluded that phlebotomy likely worked by reducing iron stores, and even normal levels of storage iron could worsen porphyrin metabolism in individuals with latent disease.