[Vitamin C measurements in vulnerable populations: 4 cases of scurvy].
Hypovitaminose C, at the origin of the scurvy, did not disappear. We report 4 cases of desocialized patients and whose very unbalanced diet was at the origin of the vitamin deficit. In addition to the hemorrhagic demonstrations described among 4 patients, one finds a modification of the superficial body growths. Physiologically, the vitamin C takes part in the stability of the collagen of the vascular wall and the bone. The biological assessment of the 4 patients was normal apart from the low ascorbemy, a syndrome of denutrition and anaemia related to the haemorrhage. The quality of the vitamin C determination requires to respect the recommended pre-analytical conditions. The treatment quickly effective, consists of an oral administration of ascorbic acid. The evolution for 3 of the 4 described patients was favorable without after-effects. The proportioning of the vitamin C should be more often prescribed in geriatrics, psychiatry and cancerology. It should systematically form part of the biological assessment of the people living alone and/or homelessness.
Beaune
G
G
Laboratoire de Biochimie, Centre Hospitalier de la Région d'Annecy. labo.gbeaune@ch-annecy.fr
Martin
C
C
Martin
D
D
Deplante
J P
JP
Heluwaert
F
F
Ducret
F
F
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012614:Scurvy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012934:Social Isolation; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035862:Vulnerable Populations
D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid