Pellagra affecting a patient with Crohn's disease

Abstract: Pellagra is a nutritional disease caused by a deficiency of niacin. It may lead to death if not identified and treated timely. We review the literature and report a female patient presented with clinical features of pellagra as a complication of Crohn's disease.

Caso 6 Mulher, 54 anos, procurou atenção básica em município de Minas Gerais com queixa de lesões descamativas e pruriginosas em área de exposição solar, há cerca de 2 meses / Case 6

Mulher, 54 anos, procurou atenção básica em município de Minas Gerais com queixa de lesões descamativas e pruriginosas em área de exposição solar, há cerca de 2 meses. Essa é a segunda vez que manifesta estes sinais e não sabe precisar há quanto tempo ocorreu o primeiro episódio. Relata que no intervalo entre eles não apresentou qualquer tipo de lesão cutânea. A paciente é alcoolista, tabagista, hipertensa e não faz uso de medicamentos.

Lipomatose simétrica benigna e pelagra, associadas ao alcoolismo / Benign symmetrical lipomatosis and pellagra associated with alcoholism

A 42-year-old male patient, alcoholic, presented showing signs of tumors in the neck and around the shoulders, scaly, erythematous-violaceous lesions and some bullous lesions in sun-exposed areas of upper and lower limbs. Based on clinical features, laboratory tests and imaging studies we have established the diagnosis of pellagra associated with benign symmetrical lipomatosis, both justified by chronic alcoholism. Treated with intravenous B-complex and oriented about the importance of alcohol withdrawal, the patient showed complete remission of skin lesions, but with no change in the lipomatosis.

Paciente masculino, 42 anos, etilista crônico, apresentando quadro de tumorações em região cervical e ao redor dos ombros, lesões eritemato-violáceas, descamativas e algumas lesões bolhosas, nas áreas fotoexpostas dos membros superiores e inferiores. Baseado no quadro clínico e nos exames complementares, foi estabelecido o diagnóstico de pelagra associada à lipomatose simétrica benigna, sendo ambos os quadros justificados pelo etilismo crônico. Tratado com reposição de complexo B intravenoso e orientado quanto à importância da abstinência alcoólica, apresentou remissão completa do quadro cutâneo, porém sem alteração da lipomatose.

Alcohol-Related Neurologic Disorders: Ten Years of Experiences

Alcohol-related disorders are among the most costly health problems worldwide. Ingested alcohol is mainly metabolized by an oxidative pathway in the liver. Alcohol and its metabolic products (e.g., acetaldehyde and reactive oxygen species) have toxic effects on multiple organs, especially the nervous system. The diverse mechanisms of alcohol-related neurologic disorders include the direct toxic effects of alcohol, the alcohol withdrawal effect, nutritional deficiency secondary to alcoholism, and abnormalities of serum electrolytes and osmolality. We analyzed 156 cases of alcoholrelated neurologic disorders among admitted patients that had been referred in Korea during the previous 10 years. The duration of alcohol consumption ranged from 0.5 to 47 years (mean=17.8 years) and the mean amount of alcohol intake per day was 245.5 g. The 156 patients had the following diseases: Wernicke's encephalopathy (n=81, 51.9%), peripheral neuropathy (n=68, 43.6%), delirium tremens (n=59, 37.8%), Rum fit (n=31, 19.9%), pellagra encephalopathy (n=29, 18.6%), Korsakoff's psychosis (n=22, 14.2%), cerebellar atrophy (n=11, 7.0%), and alcoholic myopathy (n=6, 3.8%). We report on these cases and review the literature on alcohol-related neurologic disorders.

A Case of Carcinoid Syndrome with a Scleroderma-like Lesion / 대한피부과학회지

Carcinoid syndrome exhibits a constellation of symptoms typically exhibited by patients with carcinoid tumors that produce neuroendocrine mediators, including serotonin. Carcinoid syndrome is diagnosed by increasing urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and manifestations of gastrointestinal tract, respiratory, cardiovascular, and skin involvement, which occurs in <10% of patients. Cutaneous manifestations are flushing, telangiectasias, pellagra dermatitis, and scleroderma-like lesions, which are relatively rare. A 60-year-old woman presented with sclerotic skin lesions on both legs. On examination, a 10x10 cm solid mass was palpable on the right lower abdomen, and she had facial flushing and telangiectasia, but Raynaud's phenomenon was absent. The urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was elevated (68.2 mg/day). Abdominal and pelvic CT scans showed a right ovarian tumor which was diagnosed as a carcinoid tumor by CT-guided needle biopsy. Thus, we report, for the first time, a case of carcinoid syndrome with scleroderma-like lesions in a Korean patient. If facial flushing and a scleroderma-like lesion present together, one should consider a carcinoid tumor.

A Case of Pellagra that Initially Mimics Vibrio Sepsis / 감염과화학요법

Pellagra is a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin. It is usually found among chronic alcoholics in Korea. Dermatitis, dementia and diarrhea are characteristic symptoms of pellagra. Vibrio sepsis is due to a virulent, gram-negative rod infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus. It is generally acquired in coastal areas near warm water. Underlying disease and initial clinical presentations of pellagra are very similar to that of vibrio sepsis. Herein, we report a case of pellagra that initially mimicked vibrio sepsis.

A Case of Pellagra that Initially Mimics Vibrio Sepsis / 감염과화학요법

Pellagra is a disease caused by a deficiency of niacin. It is usually found among chronic alcoholics in Korea. Dermatitis, dementia and diarrhea are characteristic symptoms of pellagra. Vibrio sepsis is due to a virulent, gram-negative rod infection caused by Vibrio vulnificus. It is generally acquired in coastal areas near warm water. Underlying disease and initial clinical presentations of pellagra are very similar to that of vibrio sepsis. Herein, we report a case of pellagra that initially mimicked vibrio sepsis.

Two Cases of Pellagra in Alcoholics / 대한피부과학회지

Pellagra is a chronic wasting disorder characterized by 3 clinical distinct symptoms; dermatitis; dementia; and diarrhea. It results from a marked cellular deficiency of water-soluble vitamin B3, also called niacin. Dermatitis begins as an erythema and shows bilateral symmetrical eruption at cutaneous sites of solar exposure. Herein we report 2 cases of pellagra in chronic alcoholics.

Pelagra / Pellagra

A pelagra (deficiência de vitamina B6) acomete pacientes cronicamente desnutridos emerece destaque por seu envolvimento multissistêmico. É relatado o caso de um paciente de48 anos, sexo masculino, com história de alcoolismo crônico, diarréia, insônia, irritabilidade ediminuição da memória. Ao exame físico, apresentava lesões eritematodescamativas,edemaciadas, simétricas no dorso de ambos os pés e região anterior e posterior das pernas,poupando a área da bermuda e as tiras dos chinelos. Após 20 dias de reposição de niacina ecomplexo B, apresentou melhora significativa das lesões de pele, sem melhora dos sintomasdigestivos e neurológicos. Os aspectos da patogênese, fisiopatologia, diagnóstico diferencial etratamento da pelagra são discutidos. O diagnóstico de pelagra deve ser lembrado em pacientescom lesões de pele e fatores de risco para desnutrição, como pacientes alcoolistas e doentescrônicos.

Pellagra (vitamin B6 deficiency) is seen in chronically malnourished patients and deservesattention because of its multisystemic involvement. We report a case of a 48-year-old malepatient with chronic alcohol abuse, diarrhea, insomnia, irritability and memory impairment. Onphysical examination, there were symmetrical, erythematous, desquamative and edematouslesions on the dorsum of both feet and anterior and posterior aspects of the legs, sparing thearea covered by the shorts and slippers straps. After 20 days of niacin and B complexreplacement, there was marked improvement in skin lesions, but the digestive and neurologicalsymptoms did not improve. Aspects concerning pathogenesis, pathophysiology, differentialdiagnosis and treatment of pellagra are discussed. Diagnosis of pellagra should be consideredin patients with skin lesions and risk factors for malnourishment, such as alcoholic andchronically ill patients.

A Case of Pellagra Induced by Isoniazid during Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis / 결핵및호흡기질환

A Case of Pellagra Induced by Isoniazid during Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Pellagra is a disease caused by a deficiency of nicotinic acid or niacin. It is mostly found among people eating corn-based diets in parts of China, Africa and India. It is also induced by drugs, such as isoniazid or 5-fluorouracil. Isoniazid inhibits the conversion of tryptophan to niacin and may induce pellagra, particularly in poorly nourished patients. Pellagra should be suspected whenever tuberculous patients under the treatment with isoniazid develop mental, neurological or gastrointestinal symptoms, even in the absence of typical skin changes. Herein, our experienced of a case of pellagra induced by isoniazid during treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis is reported. The patient was referred due to a skin rash and drowsy mental status. Her skin lesion developed during treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. Her symptoms were improved after discontinuation of antituberculous agents and on the administration of nicotinamide.

Pelagra: presentación de dos casos / Pellagra: presentation of two cases

Se presentan dos casos de pelagra estudiados en el año 2001, en dos hombres de 40 y 47 años de edad, el alcoholismo resultó un factor común en ambos. Las lesiones cutáneas localizadas en zonas características (dorso de manos y antebrazos, tobillos y dorso de los pies) aumentaron su intensidad y síntomas de forma paralela a la intensidad de la insolación, uno de los casos presentó síntomas diarreicos y ambos mostraron afectación neurológica. En los dos casos se resolvieron las lesiones supliendo la dieta con ácido nicotínico y un complejo vitamínico (multivit), además de fotoprotección y emolientes. Llamamos la atención sobre un nuevo tipo de paciente, la pelagra ha dejado de ser un marcador de miseria y marginación de otra época para convertirse en un marcador de alcoholismo

Dermatoses do pavilhäo auricular / External ear dermatosis

Apresentamos uma atualizaçäo sobre as dermatoses que ocorrem no pavilhäo auricular. Propomos uma classificaçäo em sete grupos e realizamos uma sucinta descriçäo clínica de cada uma das 84 entidades catalogadas, de forma didática, com a finalidade de auxiliar o médico, sobretudo o clínico geral, o dermatologista e o otorrinolaringologista, no diagnóstico de tais patologias.