Porphyria cutanea tarda is a
skin disease caused by
photosensitization by
porphyrins whose accumulation is caused by deficiency of hepatic uroporphyrin-
ogen decarboxylase activity. Mutations in the
uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase gene are present in the low-penetrant, autosomal dominant familial form but not in the commoner sporadic form of
porphyria cutanea tarda. We have investigated the relationship between age of onset of skin lesions and mutations (C282Y, H63D) in the
hemochromatosis gene in familial (19 patients) and sporadic
porphyria cutanea tarda (65 patients). Familial
porphyria cutanea tarda was identified by mutational analysis of the
uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase gene. Five previously described and eight novel mutations (A80S, R144P, L216Q, E218K, L282R, G303S, 402-403delGT, IVS2 + 2 delTAA) were identified. Homozygosity for the C282Y
hemochromatosis mutation was associated with an earlier onset of skin lesions in both familial and sporadic
porphyria cutanea tarda, the effect being more marked in familial
porphyria cutanea tarda where anticipation was demonstrated in family studies. Analysis of the frequencies of
hemochromatosis genotypes in each type of
porphyria cutanea tarda indicated that C282Y homozygosity is an important susceptibility factor in both types but suggested that heterozygosity for this mutation has much less effect on the development of the disease.