PCT patients have higher risk of developing cardiovascular disorders
Patients with heart disease risk factors analyzed to assess other risks
People with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), the most common form of porphyria, may be at a higher risk of heart attacks, blood clot-related complications, and other cardiovascular conditions, underscoring the need for early screening and targeted treatment, a retrospective study from the U.S. suggests.
According to researchers, “physicians can consider these results when formulating the treatment plan and early cardiovascular screening for PCT patients to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.”
The study was published in the form of a letter to the editor titled, “Enhanced cardiovascular risks in patients with porphyria Cutanea Tarda: A retrospective cohort study,” in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
Like other types of porphyria, in PCT, porphyrins and heme precursors accumulate. Heme is a molecule essential for oxygen transport in cells. This type of porphyria is caused by a deficiency of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD), one of the enzymes needed for producing heme. PCT is mainly marked by abnormal sensitivity to sunlight, causing blisters or other skin lesions to form upon exposure to the sun.
Assessing cardiovascular risk
Studies have reported an increased risk of ischemic heart disease, where reduced blood flow to the heart causes damage, in people with PCT. Here, a team of U.S. researchers retrospectively analyzed data from PCT patients with risk factors for heart disease to see if the risk of other cardiovascular conditions is also increased. People without PCT who were matched for age, other demographics features, along with associated cardiovascular risk factors were used as controls.
In total, 2,257 PCT patients and 2,257 matched controls were included. The patients’ three-year risk to develop venous embolism and thrombosis was 3.06-times higher than for controls. These conditions are associated with blood clots forming in a vein, which can travel to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, causing serious complications.
PCT patients also had a 2.39-higher risk of an acute myocardial infarction, or a heart attack. They also faced higher risks of developing other serious conditions, including cerebrovascular diseases, which are conditions that affect blood flow to the brain; ischemic heart diseases; cardiomyopathy, that is, disease of the heart muscle; heart valve disorders; heart failure; and high blood pressure-related disorders.
The findings suggest an association between PCT and several forms of heart disease.
“Future research can further study the relationship between PCT and cardiovascular disease to identify the mechanism of increased cardiovascular disease risk in PCT,” the researchers wrote.
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