Warren L J, George S
Dermatology Department, Amersham Hospital, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom.
Australas J Dermatol. 1998 Aug;39(3):179-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0960.1998.tb01278.x.
Erythropoietic protoporphyria is a rare photodermatosis for which treatment options are limited. The present report describes the clinical features of a patient with erythropoietic protoporphyria and liver function test abnormalities associated with treatment with beta-carotene. Subsequent treatment with narrow-band UVB phototherapy resulted in marked subjective improvement in photosensitivity, which was confirmed by abolition of demonstrated abnormalities on monochromator phototesting. The therapeutic options for photosensitivity in erythropoietic protoporphyria are reviewed and discussed.