Early-stage HIV infection and hepatitis C virus infection are associated with elevated serum porphyrin levels.

Abstract

Porphyria cutanea tarda is known to be associated with HIV infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Our purpose was to evaluate whether early infection with HIV, with or without HCV infection, is associated with elevated serum porphyrin levels. Serum porphyrin levels were measured in samples obtained from 103 patients with early HIV infection. The results were compared with those of 89 late-stage HIV-positive patients and 78 HIV-negative patients. The highest median porphyrin level was in early-stage HIV-positive/HCV-positive samples, followed in decreasing order by those in early-stage HIV-positive/HCV-negative, late-stage HIV-positive/HCV-positive, late-stage HIV-positive/HCV-negative, HIV-negative/HCV-positive, and HIV-negative/HCV-negative groups. Elevated porphyrin levels were independently associated with early-stage HIV infection (P < .0001) and HCV infection (P = .03). This finding suggests abnormal porphyrin metabolism is most noticeable in early-stage HIV infection; it becomes less severe with the progression of HIV disease.