Treatment of photosensitivity in congenital erythropoietic porphyria (CEP) with beta carotene

Abstract

Beta carotene in combination with canthaxanthine has proved effective in a patient with CEP by preventing skin eruptions and increasing light tolerance as measured by graded light exposure with the Xenon lamp at 410 nm. It is important to administer a beta carotene preparation which gives satisfactory serum levels (about 1000 μg/100 ml).