title: [Scurvy in intensive care despite vitamin supplementation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scurvy can occur in hospitalized patients despite vitamin supplementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 63 Year-old patient who had spent several weeks in intensive care developed an unexplained anemia and ecchymoses. Despite daily administration of 130 mg/day of vitamin C since his admission, his ascorbic acid blood levels had collapsed. Administration of 1g/day relieved the symptoms within four weeks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whether a deficiency had existed prior to admission or not, scurvy developed during the week of intensive care despite parenteral nutrition supplying a daily dose of 130 mg of vitamin C. Such deficiencies decompensated in surgical situations remain a reality in developed countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In certain pathological contexts and in all the growing number of cases in elderly patients and many surgical indications, the need for vitamin C supplementation has to be defined. The needs at that particular time must be taken into account and the prior nutritional status.
authors.affiliation: Fédération de médecine, HIA Legoust, Metz-Armee. Jlucperret@infonie.fr
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Perret
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lagauche
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Favier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bigois
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D012307:Risk Factors; D012614:Scurvy / Q000209:etiology*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid