Perifollicular petechiae and easy bruising
This patient was a liver transplant recipient and had a history of malnutrition. One tell-tale sign on the physical exam, however, left no doubt as to the diagnosis.
Diagnosis: Vitamin C deficiency
We diagnosed this patient with vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) based on the fact that she had perifollicular hemorrhages with corkscrew hairs, which is a pathognomonic feature of the deficiency. The diagnosis was confirmed with a blood vitamin C level of 10 mcmol/L (normal range: 11-114 mcmol/L). It’s important to note that a vitamin C level drawn after hospitalization may be falsely normal due to an improved diet during hospitalization, so a normal vitamin C level doesn’t always rule out a deficiency.
Vitamin C is absorbed from the small intestine and excreted renally. A low vitamin C level occurs in the presence of several conditions—specifically alcoholism and critical illnesses such as sepsis, trauma, major surgery, or stroke—possibly due to decreased absorption and increased oxidative stress. Vitamin C is necessary for multiple hydroxylation reactions, including hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis, beta-hydroxybutyric acid in carnitine synthesis, and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase in catecholamine synthesis.1
Early vitamin C deficiency presents with nonspecific symptoms, such as malaise, fatigue, and lethargy, followed by the development of anemia, myalgia, bone pain, easy bruising, edema, petechiae, perifollicular hemorrhages, corkscrew hairs, gingivitis, poor wound healing, and mood changes. If untreated, jaundice, neuropathy, hemolysis, seizures, and death can occur.2-4
,Perifollicular hemorrhages with corkscrew hairs are characteristic of the Dx
The differential diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency includes vasculitis, thrombocytopenia, multiple myeloma, and folliculitis.
Vasculitis typically presents with palpable purpura and is not exclusively perifollicular.5 Thrombocytopenia may present with petechiae, but the petechiae are generally not perifollicular and hair shaft abnormalities are generally absent. Multiple myeloma may present with purpura with minimal trauma and larger ecchymosis that isn’t petechial in appearance. Folliculitis typically presents with folliculocentric pustules that have surrounding erythema, but no hemorrhaging.
Suspect vitamin C deficiency in patients with alcoholism, a poor diet, and those who are critically ill.6 During the physical exam, look for ecchymosis, edema, gingivitis, impaired wound healing, jaundice, and the tell-tale sign of perifollicular hemorrhages with corkscrew hairs.7
If lab values and/or circumstances leave doubt as to whether a true vitamin C deficiency exists, a punch biopsy of an area of perifollicular hemorrhage may be performed. The punch biopsy should demonstrate follicular hyperkeratosis overlying multiple fragmented hair shafts that are surrounded by a perifollicular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with extravasated red blood cells.4
Treat with vitamin C
Vitamin C can be replaced via the oral or intravenous (IV) route. There is currently no consensus on a single best replacement regimen, but several effective regimens have been reported in the literature.8,9
We started our patient on IV vitamin C 1 g/d, which improved her cutaneous lesions. Unfortunately, though, she succumbed to complications of her liver disease shortly after starting the therapy.
CORRESPONDENCE
Krishna AJ Mutgi, MD, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, 555 S. 18th Street, Columbus, OH 43205; Krishna.Mutgi@nationwidechildrens.org.
