Behind the Skin: A Rare Case of Scurvy-Associated Megaloblastic Anemia

Abstract

Scurvy, caused by vitamin C deficiency, is very rare nowadays in the developed world. Scattered cases are found in people with unusual eating habits, alcoholism, intestinal malabsorption, mental disorders, or elderly living alone. Because of its rarity, clinical presentations of scurvy, especially anemia and bleeding, are no longer well appreciated, and consequently extensive evaluation is commonly launched to pursue scurvy mimics, such as deep vein thrombosis, vasculitis, systemic coagulation disorders, and myelodysplasia. Herein, we describe the clinical manifestations and lab findings in a scurvy patient to raise awareness of this uncommon disease.