Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous Disease

A man whose diet was limited to consumption of chicken, fish, and bread was admitted for weight loss, dyspnea, and cutaneous lesions. Findings of the physical examination included lower-extremity purpura. Initial work-up demonstrated severe ferropenic anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, vertebral fracture,...

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Main Authors: Daniel Alberto Carrillo-Vázquez, Alejandro Gutierrez-Castillo, Carlos Antonio Davizon-López, Alejandro Barrera-Godínez, María Graciela Leal-Gutiérrez, Marcela Saeb-Lima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American College of Physicians 2023-01-01
Series:Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
Online Access:https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2022.0746
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author Daniel Alberto Carrillo-Vázquez
Alejandro Gutierrez-Castillo
Carlos Antonio Davizon-López
Alejandro Barrera-Godínez
María Graciela Leal-Gutiérrez
Marcela Saeb-Lima
author_facet Daniel Alberto Carrillo-Vázquez
Alejandro Gutierrez-Castillo
Carlos Antonio Davizon-López
Alejandro Barrera-Godínez
María Graciela Leal-Gutiérrez
Marcela Saeb-Lima
author_sort Daniel Alberto Carrillo-Vázquez
collection DOAJ
description A man whose diet was limited to consumption of chicken, fish, and bread was admitted for weight loss, dyspnea, and cutaneous lesions. Findings of the physical examination included lower-extremity purpura. Initial work-up demonstrated severe ferropenic anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, vertebral fracture, and dilation of the inferior vena cava and right cardiac chambers. Vitamin C deficiency was documented and, after adequate supplementation, the anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and bleeding resolved. This case demonstrates the wide, unspecific, and reversible systemic manifestations associated with scurvy, its potential as a great mimicker, and the relevance of nutritional deficiencies even in an apparently nutrient-rich environment.
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publishDate 2023-01-01
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series Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
spelling doaj-art-2524bbf2360e4c80b8fa74fe5a2afb8d2025-08-20T02:26:51ZengAmerican College of PhysiciansAnnals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases2767-76642023-01-012110.7326/aimcc.2022.0746Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous DiseaseDaniel Alberto Carrillo-Vázquez0Alejandro Gutierrez-Castillo1Carlos Antonio Davizon-López2Alejandro Barrera-Godínez3María Graciela Leal-Gutiérrez4Marcela Saeb-Lima51Internal Medicine Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y, Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico1Internal Medicine Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y, Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico1Internal Medicine Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y, Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico2Dermatology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y, Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico3Hemato-Oncology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y, Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico4Pathology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y, Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, MexicoA man whose diet was limited to consumption of chicken, fish, and bread was admitted for weight loss, dyspnea, and cutaneous lesions. Findings of the physical examination included lower-extremity purpura. Initial work-up demonstrated severe ferropenic anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, vertebral fracture, and dilation of the inferior vena cava and right cardiac chambers. Vitamin C deficiency was documented and, after adequate supplementation, the anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and bleeding resolved. This case demonstrates the wide, unspecific, and reversible systemic manifestations associated with scurvy, its potential as a great mimicker, and the relevance of nutritional deficiencies even in an apparently nutrient-rich environment.https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2022.0746
spellingShingle Daniel Alberto Carrillo-Vázquez
Alejandro Gutierrez-Castillo
Carlos Antonio Davizon-López
Alejandro Barrera-Godínez
María Graciela Leal-Gutiérrez
Marcela Saeb-Lima
Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous Disease
Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases
title Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous Disease
title_full Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous Disease
title_fullStr Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous Disease
title_full_unstemmed Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous Disease
title_short Scurvy's Systemic Clinical Picture: A Multiorgan Presentation of a Conspicuous Disease
title_sort scurvy s systemic clinical picture a multiorgan presentation of a conspicuous disease
url https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/aimcc.2022.0746
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