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Query: UMLS:C0003969 (vitamin C deficiency)
 625 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We report a case of scurvy. This case is interesting by the unilateral character of the ecchymotic leg's purpura. Ascorbic acid assays do not yet enable subclinical vitamin C deficiency to be reliably detected. Hence the importance of knowing the situation which expose to this deficiency.
Ann Dermatol Venereol 1994
PMID:[Unilateral isolated purpura disclosing scurvy]. 779 61

Nutritional deficiencies result in many distinctive cutaneous manifestations. Vitamin C deficiency, or scurvy, produces follicular hyperkeratosis, perifollicular hemorrhages, gingival hypertrophy, and bleeding (1). We report here a case of malnutrition who suddenly developed extensive eccymoses on the lower extremities sharing morphological similarities with purpura fulminans. Although the patient did not have the characteristic dermatological features of scurvy, serum levels of vitamins C, K, B12, and E were decreased.
J Dermatol 1999 Jun
PMID:Confluent ecchymoses on the lower extremities of a malnourished patient. 1040 89

We present a case of a malnourished 68-year old man with occult hypothyroidism who presented with malaise, pyrexia, tongue swelling, oral ulceration and dysphagia after a 6-month period of increasing lethargy and failing self-care. Severe necrotic oral ulcerative lesions were accompanied by cutaneous purpura, blood-filled blisters and bedsores. It was concluded that the patient's clinical condition reflected necrotizing stomatitis on a background of malnutrition with scorbutic skin lesions and hypothyroidism. The patient made a good recovery with scrupulous oral hygiene, debridement, intravenous metronidazole and nutritional support. Healing occurred with marked fibrosis and trismus, which has slowly improved with mouth-opening exercises. Necrotizing stomatitis is more commonly encountered in malnourished children in developing countries, and may subsequently result in devastating facial defects and death. Patients in the developed world with poor oral hygiene, malnourishment and immunosuppression are also at risk, but early diagnosis and treatment is life-saving and reduces subsequent disability.
Clin Exp Dermatol 2006 May
PMID:Necrotizing stomatitis in the developed world. 1668 79

We report on scurvy in 3 liver transplant recipients. Clinical presentation was limited to ecchymotic purpura and mild follicular keratosis with no mucosal involvement. Skin biopsies suggest vitamin C deficiency, which was confirmed by a low level of vitamin C in both sera and leukocyte specimens. Skin lesions dramatically improved within a few weeks after supplementation with ascorbic acid.
J Am Acad Dermatol 2006 Jul
PMID:Scurvy in liver transplant patients. 1678 13

We report a 10-month-old boy with inflammatory and necrotic gingival lesions, fever, irritability, and pseudoparalysis of the legs. Laboratory examinations revealed moderate anemia and skeletal X-rays showed osteopenia, scorbutic rosary at the costochondral junctions, and "corner sign" on the proximal metaphyses of the femora. The boy had been fed only with diluted cow's milk. He had never taken solid food, vitamin C, or iron complement. Seventy-two hours after starting oral vitamin C supplementation, there was significant improvement in the patient's gingival lesions and general health. The clinical presentation and laboratory and imaging findings, together with the dramatic response to ascorbic acid intake, allowed us to confirm the diagnosis of infantile scurvy. Scurvy, a dietary disease due to the deficient intake of vitamin C, is uncommon in the pediatric population. In an infant who has never received vitamin C, the combination of gingival lesions, pseudoparalysis, and irritability strongly suggests a diagnosis of scurvy. The clinical picture, together with the laboratory data, radiological studies, and therapeutic response to vitamin C administration, confirmed the diagnosis.
Int J Dermatol 2007 Feb
PMID:Scurvy in a 10-month-old boy. 1726 76

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is necessary for the formation of collagen, reducing free radicals, and aiding in iron absorption. Scurvy, a disease of dietary ascorbic acid deficiency, is uncommon today. Indeed, implementation of dietary recommendations largely eradicated infantile scurvy in the US in the early 1900s. We present a case of an otherwise healthy 2-year-old Caucasian girl who presented with refusal to walk secondary to pain in her lower extremities, generalized irritability, sleep disturbance, and malaise. The girl's parents described feeding the patient an organic diet recommended by the Church of Scientology that included a boiled mixture of organic whole milk, barley, and corn syrup devoid of fruits and vegetables. Physical examination revealed pale, bloated skin with edematous, violaceous gums and loosening of a few of her teeth. Dermatologic findings included xerosis, multiple scattered ecchymoses of the extremities, and perifollicular hemorrhage. Laboratory and radiographic evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of scurvy. The patient showed dramatic improvement after only 3 days of treatment with oral ascorbic acid and significant dietary modification. In this case report, we revisit the old diagnosis of scurvy with a modern dietary twist secondary to religious practices. This case highlights the importance of taking a detailed dietary history when evaluating diseases involving the skin.
Am J Clin Dermatol 2007
PMID:Infantile scurvy: an old diagnosis revisited with a modern dietary twist. 1742 15

The association of vitamin C deficiency with nutritional factors is commonly recognized. However, an acute form of scurvy can occur in patients with an acute systemic inflammatory response, which is produced by sepsis, medications, cancer or acute inflammation. The frequency of acute hypovitaminosis C in hospitalized patients is higher than previously recognized. We report the occurrence of acute signs and symptoms of scurvy (perifollicular petechiae, erythema, gingivitis and bleeding) in a patient hospitalized for treatment of metastatic renal-cell carcinoma with high-dose interleukin-2. Concomitantly, serum vitamin C levels decreased to below normal. Better diets and longer lifespan may result a lower frequency of acute scurvy and a higher frequency of scurvy associated with systemic inflammatory responses. Therefore, increased awareness of this condition can lead to early recognition of the cutaneous signs of acute scurvy in hospitalized patients with acute illnesses or in receipt of biological agents, and prevent subsequent morbidity such as bleeding, anaemia, impaired immune defences, oedema or neurological symptoms.
Clin Exp Dermatol 2009 Oct
PMID:Acute scurvy during treatment with interleukin-2. 1909 21

Scurvy is a nutritional disorder resulting from vitamin C deficiency. Although rare in developing countries, scurvy continues to develop in settings of limited dietary intake such as post-gastrointestinal surgery and restrictive dietary habits. The disease primarily affects the skin and soft tissue. As the state of deficiency persists, hematological and immunological sequelae may develop. The classic signs of scurvy are not always present and can be altered by the presence of other comorbidities. In this article, we present a challenging case of scurvy in an older male from an urban tertiary healthcare setting. We review the atypical and uncommon clinical and pathological findings of scurvy including those seen in the skin, blood, and bone marrow. We also review contemporary research findings that provide a better understanding of the pathogenicity and clinical manifestations of vitamin C deficiency.
Int J Dermatol 2020 Dec
PMID:Revisiting the pathobiology of scurvy: a review of the literature in the context of a challenging case. 3215 84