To determine the efficacy and tolerability of deferasirox in the treatment of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda.

Primary objective - the elimination of all blistering within 6 months of treatment.

Secondary objective - decrease in total body iron levels.

Phlebotomy is the standard therapy for Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT), but it can be inconvenient and cause anemia in some patients.

Deferasirox is a new class of tridentate iron chelators with high affinity and selectivity for iron. The medication is administered orally, which if effective for PCT would make it a more convenient and possibly more tolerable option for patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of Porphyria Cutanea Tarda based on clinical exam and 24-hour urine porphyrin levels
• have Porphyria Cutanea Tarda for at least 3 months prior to enrollment with active blistering (3 blisters or erosions per month)
• women of childbearing potential must use an effective method of contraception during the study, however this cannot include hormonal contraception (oral contraceptives, hormone patches, Depo-Provera injections, NUVA Ring, etc.)
• treatment naive patients or patients unresponsive or intolerant of phlebotomy
• Ferritin level is greater than or equal to 25ng/mL

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with serum creatinine above the upper limit of normal
• patients receiving phlebotomy who are controlled on this therapy
• pregnant or breast feeding females
• patients with liver transaminases more than 5 times the upper limit of normal
• patients with a history of hypersensitivity to deferasirox
• patients with a history of pre-existing renal condition, or receiving medication that depresses renal function
• patients on other chelators
• history of non-compliance to medical regimens.

10 patients were enrolled, of which 8 were compliant with therapy and had evaluable data. Of the 2 patients dropped from the study, one patient was lost to follow-up after 2 months and another was noncompliant with medication dosing.