A Case of Hand Ulceration due to Cutaneous Porphyria with Long-Term Follow-Up

Porphyria is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by the accumulation of porphyrins or their precursors in tissues owing to the decreased activity of enzymes involved in heme biosynthesis.In this report, we describe a case of cutaneous porphyria presenting with hand ulceration that was observed over a long period of time.The patient underwent multiple skin graft procedures at the time of the initial diagnosis and was treated for approximately 20 years.Although wound healing was not delayed and the skin grafts were successfully integrated, the ulcers gradually recurred due to the difficulty of maintaining complete light protection in daily life over an extended period.Surgical interventions can temporarily improve a patient's quality of life, but it is also important to thoroughly instruct patients on light protection to prevent recurrence.