TY - JOUR
T1 - Scurvy as cause of purpura in the XXI century: a review on this "ancient" disease
AU - Antonelli, Massimo
AU - Pecorini, Giovanni
AU - Flex, Andrea
AU - Massi, Guido
AU - Landolfi, Raffaele
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Scurvy is defined as a deficiency of ascorbic acid, which is an essential exogenous vitamin in humans. Vitamin C is involved in collagen synthesis and its deficit can cause disorders of connective tissue. The most frequent symptoms are weakness, arthralgias, anorexia and depression, commonly associated with follicular hyperkeratosis and perifollicular hemorrhage, with purpura.PATIENTS AND METHODS: A young woman, with a history of malnutrition, manifested purpura and hematoma of the left lower limb. The laboratory tests didn't detect alterations either in coagulation, the platelet count or in the autoimmunity. The total body TC scan didn't show neoplasia or other suspected lesions. Excluding the most important causes of purpura, in consideration of malnutrition, scurvy was suspected.RESULTS: A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Accordingly to this finding, a treatment with a daily intravenous infusion of vitamin C was started with consequent improvement of hematoma and purpura.CONCLUSIONS: Scurvy is a re-emerging disease, also in western countries. When purpura appears in young adults, scurvy has to be investigated, especially when a history of malnutrition is present. The treatment with vitamin C infusions should be started as soon as possible in order to prevent any complications.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Scurvy is defined as a deficiency of ascorbic acid, which is an essential exogenous vitamin in humans. Vitamin C is involved in collagen synthesis and its deficit can cause disorders of connective tissue. The most frequent symptoms are weakness, arthralgias, anorexia and depression, commonly associated with follicular hyperkeratosis and perifollicular hemorrhage, with purpura.PATIENTS AND METHODS: A young woman, with a history of malnutrition, manifested purpura and hematoma of the left lower limb. The laboratory tests didn't detect alterations either in coagulation, the platelet count or in the autoimmunity. The total body TC scan didn't show neoplasia or other suspected lesions. Excluding the most important causes of purpura, in consideration of malnutrition, scurvy was suspected.RESULTS: A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. Accordingly to this finding, a treatment with a daily intravenous infusion of vitamin C was started with consequent improvement of hematoma and purpura.CONCLUSIONS: Scurvy is a re-emerging disease, also in western countries. When purpura appears in young adults, scurvy has to be investigated, especially when a history of malnutrition is present. The treatment with vitamin C infusions should be started as soon as possible in order to prevent any complications.
KW - Ascorbic acid
KW - Purpura
KW - Scurvy
KW - Vitamin C
KW - Ascorbic acid
KW - Purpura
KW - Scurvy
KW - Vitamin C
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/170842
U2 - 10.26355/eurrev_201807_15433
DO - 10.26355/eurrev_201807_15433
M3 - Article
VL - 22
SP - 4355
EP - 4358
JO - European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
JF - European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
SN - 1128-3602
ER -