Scurvy in a patient with AIDS: case report

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: André Luiz Maltos, Luciana Ligia da Silva, Aderbal Garcia Bernardes Junior, Guilherme Vannucchi Portari, Daniel Ferreira da Cunha
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2011
• Subjects: AIDS; Escorbuto; Desnutrição; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822011000100029; https://doaj.org/article/ed8973745abf42f0a4c0f0acdd2794f0

We report the case of a 35-year-old homeless alcoholic and illicit drug user, with AIDS, who was admitted to the emergency unit complaining of asthenia and a weight loss of 30kg over the preceding three months. Clinical and laboratory data confirmed a diagnosis of marasmus, bacterial pneumonia, chorioretinitis caused by Toxoplasma gondii and oral Candida infection. The patient also presented loss of tongue papillae, gingival hypertrophy, perifollicular hyperkeratosis and hemorrhage, coiled, corkscrew-like hair, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, increased C-reactive protein levels and low serum vitamin C levels. The patient developed severe gastric hemorrhage, with hemodynamic instability and terminal disseminated intravascular coagulopathy.