1995 Volume 47 Pages 117-120
A 52-year-old male heavy drinker was admitted to our hospital because of the liver dysfunction and positive serum anti-HCV antibody. He had no history of photosensitivity.
Laparoscopic examination revealed multiple small hollows of dark purple color sized 5 to 10 mm in diameter on liver surface, which findings were characteristic of porphyria cutanea tarda. The liver biopsy showed mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis in the potal area with piecemel necrosis. Urinary excretion of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin were high.
The second laparoscopy and biopsy was performed one year after the first examination. There was no remarkable change on liver surface. The liver biopsy specimen showed orange fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Measurements of porphyria were repeated, uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin were 342 μg/g・cr, and 23 μg/g・cr, respectively.
In this case, laparoscopy was essential for the diagnosis of porphyria cutanea tarda.
