Alchohol is another inhibitor of the enzyme. Symptoms Affected people get blisters on areas of the skin which are exposed to the sun. It also makes the skin sensitive to minor trauma. Crusting and scarring can also occur and will take a long time to heal. This skin damage happens because of the metabolite porphyrin.
Porphyrins are one of the precursors of heme.
Since there is a deficiency of this enzyme which is a part of the process which transforms porphyrins and the other heme precursors into heme, the porphyrins aren't getting used up. They accumulate in the liver and are transported to the skin by the blood plasma. When porphyrins are exposed to light and oxygen, they produced a charged, unstable oxygen which is harmful to the skin. PCT can also cause liver damage, including liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver. Diagnosis PCT can be diagnosed by testing the blood plasma, urine, and stool for porphyrins.