Mycobacterium kansasii infection in a patient presenting with porphyria cutanea tarda

Abstract

Mycobacterium kansasii, an atypical mycobacterium, is an uncommon cause of cutaneous and joint disease in immunocompetent patients. We report an unusual case of infection with this organism in a patient who initially presented with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), and who was noted also to have a crusted ulcer over the middle phalanx and swelling of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the right middle finger. The cutaneous ulcer healed with minocycline, but the joint disease required a combination of rifampicin and ethambutol before a therapeutic response was obtained.

Epidemiological, Clinical, and Prognostic Differences between the Diseases Caused by Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Multicenter Study

“…tuberculosis, congenital cyanotic heart diseases, chronic liver diseases [11], some hematological diseases [12], long-term treatment with corticosteroids [13], organ transplantation [14], idiopathic CD4 + lymphopenia syndrome [15], and, mainly, HIV infection. In New Orleans, the incidence of M. kansasii infection among HIV-infected patients in 1988-1991 was twice that in 1984-1988 [16].…”