Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0003969 (vitamin C deficiency)
 625 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Four cases of scurvy diagnosed within a period of two years are reported. They comprised 2 male patients with heavy nicotine and alcohol abuse, a 35-year-old woman with malnutrition due to food supplements phobia, and a 69-year-old woman with malnutrition due to dementia and social isolation. All four patients were adynamic and anemic. Three patients showed typical dermatologic signs with hemorrhagic hyperceratosis, suffusions or cork-screw hair. Two patients complained of parodontol disorders. Other symptoms were gastrointestinal bleeding, sicca syndrome, retinal bleeding, subdural hematoma, edema and arthralgia. Associated disorders were folic acid and vitamin B12 depletion in two cases, and nephropathy and pneumonia with pneumothorax in one case each. In all cases the serum asorbic acid concentration was below the scorbutic level of 11 mumol/l. Historical data, pathogenesis, incidence, clinical presentation, diagnosis and therapy of scurvy are discussed. We conclude that scurvy can be observed even in a developed country such as Switzerland at the end of the 20th century. The real incidence may be underestimated because symptoms are not well known and disappear rapidly after admission because of sufficient vitamin C content in normal diet. Patients at risk are socially isolated alcoholics, old people, psychiatric patients and diet enthusiasts. Usually scurvy occurs in conjunction with other deficiencies. Smoking and acute illness enhance ascorbic acid depletion. With a knowledge of the symptomatology of scurvy, it is easy to diagnose and treatment is simple and effective.
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PMID:[Scurvy--a mistakenly forgotten disease]. 809 Nov 64

Osteoporosis and femoral neck fractures (FNF) are uncommon in black Africans although osteoporosis accompanying iron overload (from traditional beer brewed in iron containers) associated with ascorbic acid deficiency (oxidative catabolism by iron) has been described from sub-Saharan Africa. This study describes histomorphometric findings of iliac crest bone biopsies and serum biochemical markers of iron overload and of alcohol abuse and ascorbic acid levels in 50 black patients with FNFs (29 M, 21 F), age 62 years (40-95) years (median [min-max]), and in age- and gender-matched black controls. We found evidence of iron overload in 88% of patients and elevated markers of alcohol abuse in 72%. Significant correlations between markers of iron overload and of alcohol abuse reflect a close association between the two toxins. Patients had higher levels of iron markers, i.e., siderin deposits in bone marrow (P < 0.0001), chemical non-heme bone iron (P = 0.012), and serum ferritin (P = 0.017) than controls did. Leukocyte ascorbic acid levels were lower (P = 0.0008) than in controls. The alcohol marker mean red blood cell volume was elevated (P = 0.002) but not liver enzymes or uric acid. Bone volume, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number were lower, and trabecular separation was greater in patients than in controls, all at P < 0.0005; volume, surface, and thickness of osteoid were lower and eroded surface was greater, all at P < 0.0001. There was no osteomalacia. Ascorbic acid deficiency accounted significantly for decrease in bone volume and trabecular number, and increase in trabecular separation, osteoid surface, and eroded surface; iron overload accounted for a reduction in mineral apposition rate. Alcohol markers correlated negatively with osteoblast surface and positively with eroded surface. Relative to reported data in white FNF patients, the osteoporosis was more severe, showed lower osteoid variables and greater eroded surface; FNFs occurred 12 years earlier and were more common among men. We conclude that the osteoporosis underlying FNFs in black Africans is severe, with marked uncoupling of resorption and formation in favor of resorption. All three factors--ascorbic acid deficiency, iron overload, and alcohol abuse--contributed to the osteoporosis, in that order.
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PMID:Ascorbic acid deficiency, iron overload and alcohol abuse underlie the severe osteoporosis in black African patients with hip fractures--a bone histomorphometric study. 1554 37

We describe the clinical presentation and diagnostic tests of a patient with regional transient osteoporosis (RTO) of the foot. This patient presented with a 4-month history of left-foot pain, nonpitting edema, and brownish discolorations of both feet. He had a history of tobacco abuse, alcohol abuse, and malnutrition. Radiological studies revealed severe osteopenia in the feet, and a MRI revealed bone marrow edema. The bone biopsy was consistent with RTO. This patient also had vitamin C deficiency. This case suggests a link between vitamin C deficiency and RTO, a hypothesis supported by our review of relevant literature on osteoporosis and vitamin C.
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PMID:Regional transient osteoporosis of the foot and vitamin C deficiency. 1653 89

Scurvy is a rarely seen disease resulting from a deficiency of vitamin C. We present a case of scurvy in a 65-year-old man. The patient reported heavy alcohol abuse over the last several years. He also reported that his diet consisted of cheese pizzas only. On physical examination, he was noted to have spontaneous ecchymosis of his lower extremities (denying any history of trauma); poor dentition; and corkscrew hairs on his chest, abdomen, and legs, with associated perifollicular petechia. Punch biopsy of his skin lesions revealed perivascular lymphohistiocytic inflammation, with some focal perifollicular erythrocyte extravasation. A serum ascorbic acid level was <0.12 mg/dL (normal range, 0.20-1.9 mg/dL). A diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency was made. The patient was successfully treated with 1 g/d vitamin C for the first 5 days, followed by a dose of 500 mg/d. Though scurvy is rarely seen in modern times, it is important to identify who is at risk and to recognize the clear and classic signs and symptoms associated with scurvy. Failure to diagnose this disease can potentially lead to expensive and unnecessary medical tests, as well as missing a very simple treatment that can prevent infection and even death.
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PMID:Old world meets modern: a case report of scurvy. 1764 99