Ancient Bruises: a Case of Skin Lesions due to Vitamin C Deficiency

• Main Authors: Dipti Rao, Roeland F. Stolk, Maaike H. de Blauw, Marcel M.C. Hovens, Robert-Jan Hassing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SMC MEDIA SRL 2015-10-01
• Series: European Journal of Case Reports in Internal Medicine
• Subjects: Scurvy; ascorbic acid; ecchymosis; psychiatric disease
• Online Access: http://ejcrim.com/index.php/EJCRIM/article/view/297

Scurvy was a common 18th century disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. It presents with multiple non-specific symptoms and can lead to capillary fragility due to impaired collagen synthesis. We report the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with fatigue, nausea and progressive skin lesions consisting of multiple ecchymoses on the legs as also described in the diary drawings of a navy doctor in the 19th century. The ascorbic acid level was undetectable low in the patient’s serum. However, treatment with 500 mg ascorbic acid daily dramatically improved the skin lesions within 5 days.