Confluent ecchymoses on the lower extremities of a malnourished patient.
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.
Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
G
G
Sasaki
T
T
Satoh
H
H
Yokozeki
I
I
Katayama
K
K
Nishioka
D000368:Aged; D001361:Avitaminosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004438:Ecchymosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014815:Vitamins