Porphyria Cutanea Tarda Associated with Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia Treated with Busulfan (Myleran)

M ANY CASES of porphyria cutanea tarda have been reported since the term was introduced by Waldenstr#{246}m in 19371 to describe a type of porphyria occuring usually in adult patients and characterized by the presence of vesicles and bullae over areas exposed to the sun. Porphyria cutanea tarda may be on a genetic basis as seen frequently in the white population of South Africa,24 or it may be acquired. The latter group includes those patients with liver disease and alcoholism as described by Brunsting,57 the porphyria found among the Bantus of South Africa,512 and the recently described cutaneous porphyria in Turkey associated with the ingestion of liexachlorobenzene.1 ’ Ii the case to be described, porphyria cutanea tarda occurred in association with chronic granulocytic leukemia and busulfan therapy. This association has not been previously reported.