Haemorrhages due to vitamin C deficiency. Scurvy in the 21st century
Michiels, M.; Mellema, M.; Peters, F.P.J.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 154: A1638
2010
ISSN/ISBN: 1876-8784 PMID: 20699018 Document Number: 643024
A 68-year-old female with an extensive history of unexplained problems presented at the Department of Internal Medicine for an analysis of painful cutaneous abnormalities of the lower legs. A systemic cause could not be found. Later on the general practitioner noted haematoma and petechiae and subsequently a hypovitaminosis C. The patient received active vitamin C supplement for this. The cutaneous abnormalities on the legs had significantly improved after 3 weeks. This patient was found to have symptomatic hypovitaminosis C, also known as scurvy, as a complication of an psychiatric disorder. Although scurvy might appear to be a disease of the past that rarely occurs nowadays, it should nevertheless be given due consideration. This requires a good history taking.