Bullous Skin Lesions in a Patient with End-Stage Renal Disease and Hepatitis C

Adv Perit Dial. 2016:32:56-60.

Abstract

Bullous lesions in patients with end-stage renal disease are uncommon and can pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We present a female patient with end-stage renal disease, bullous skin lesions affecting mainly sun-exposed areas, and high ferritin levels. She also had hepatitis C. Her serum porphyrin panel was suggestive of porphyria cutanea tarda. Skin biopsy excluded inflammatory pathologies. Phlebotomy during each hemodialysis, continuation of darbepoetin, and avoidance of any further doses of intravenous iron, with close monitoring of hemoglobin, resulted in a gradual drop in ferritin level and improvement of the skin lesions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Darbepoetin alfa / therapeutic use
  • Deprescriptions
  • Female
  • Ferric Compounds / adverse effects*
  • Ferric Oxide, Saccharated
  • Glucaric Acid / adverse effects*
  • Hematinics / adverse effects*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Humans
  • Iron Overload / chemically induced*
  • Iron Overload / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Phlebotomy
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / diagnosis*
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / etiology
  • Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / therapy
  • Renal Dialysis

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Hematinics
  • Darbepoetin alfa
  • Ferric Oxide, Saccharated
  • Glucaric Acid