Chronic blistering rash on hands
The location of the patient’s lesions and multiple risk factors suggested that an uncommon disorder was at work.
In addition, it is important to provide patient education regarding proper sun protection and risk factor modification.1 Underlying HIV and viral hepatitis infection should be managed appropriately by the relevant specialists.
Our patient was counseled on proper sun protection and encouraged to cease alcohol consumption and smoking. We subsequently referred him to Hepatology for the treatment of his liver disease. Given that the patient’s ferritin level was so high (1594 ng/mL), serial phlebotomy was initiated twice monthly until levels reached the lower limit of normal. He was also started on direct-acting antiviral therapy with Epclusa (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir) for 12 weeks for treatment of his HCV and is currently in remission.
CORRESPONDENCE
Christopher G. Bazewicz, MD, Department of Dermatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033; bazewicz@uchc.edu