title: Scurvy masquerading as leukocytoclastic vasculitis: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Scurvy, a disease rarely seen in modern times, results from dietary deficiency of vitamin C and is characterized in adults by hemorrhagic diathesis, hair follicle abnormalities, and osteopenia. We present a 59-year-old man with perifollicular petechiae of the extremities, a painful lower extremity hematoma, and sacral osteopenia, who was repeatedly misdiagnosed with leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient's dietary history revealed several months of virtually no vitamin C intake. The patient rapidly improved with vitamin C replacement. We review the biochemical basis and pathophysiology of scurvy, clinical scenarios in which it occurs, clinical signs and radiologic features of the condition, and recommendations for its diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA. tarony@aol.com
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Francescone
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levitt
mesh_terms: D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012614:Scurvy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018366:Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid