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Pseudoporphyria Induced by Furosemide in a Chronic Kidney Disease Patient on Maintenance Haemodialysis

Chau Ng, Mathew Mathew

Research output: Contribution to journalMeeting Abstractpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Pseudoporphyria is a photosensitive bullous skin disease that mimics porphyria cutanea tarda and differs by having normal serum and urine porphyrin. It occurs in sun-exposed skin areas leading to skin fragility and blister formation. It is usually induced by certain medications and can also occur in chronic kidney disease patients on long term dialysis.

Case Report: We report a 66-year-old gentleman with chronic kidney disease on thrice weekly maintenance haemodialysis for last three years, who developed recurrent blister formation on dorsum of both hands over a six-month period. He experienced periodical formation of serous fluid-containing blisters, measuring up to 2 cm in diameter. The blisters usually resolved without any intervention in about three weeks, leaving behind pale and pink skin. The blisters were not associated with pain, pruritus or erythema. Most days, he spent several hours outdoors with exposure to sunlight. Skin biopsy showed marked subepidermal oedema with erythrocyte extravasation and blistering with regeneration of basal keratinocytes. Immunofluorescence was negative, and vasculitis was not evident. The features were most consistent with pseudoporphyria. He was on high dose of furosemide, which was ceased, and his bullous lesions resolved gradually with no further blister formation. Hence, we postulate that his pseudoporphyria was induced by the furosemide in the setting of long term haemodialysis.

Conclusions: Although relatively uncommon, pseudoporphyria remains a differential diagnosis in cutaneous diseases of chronic kidney disease patients on long term dialysis.
Original languageEnglish
Article numberPoster 238
Pages (from-to)249
Number of pages1
JournalNephrology
Volume21
Issue number S2
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2016
Externally publishedYes
EventAnnual Scientific Meeting of the Australian-and-New-Zealand-Society-of-Nephrology 2016 - Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Duration: 17 Sept 201621 Sept 2016
Conference number: 52nd
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14401797/2016/21/S2 (Nephrology, Vol 21, Issue S2)

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