Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: A 31-year-old female presented at our hospital with fatigue and subcutaneous bleeding. Blood tests revealed hemolytic anemia. The patient had Coombs-negative normocytic anemia and thrombocytopenia; therefore, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura was ruled out. On day two, we noticed that the eating habits of the patient, hypersegmented neutrophils, and megaloblastic changes suggested malnutrition; therefore, we initiated vitamin supplementation. On day six, the vitamin C levels were <0.2 μg/mL, and the patient was therefore diagnosed with scurvy. Scurvy can mimic hemolytic anemia by causing normocytic megaloblastic anemia with a high reticulocyte count. Hypersegmented neutrophils and a detailed medical history are important for making a differential diagnosis.
Source: Internal Medicine
Authors: Kaito Sano, Naoto Imoto, Haruki Koketsu, Atsushi Kubo, Rie Ito, Marie Nakashima, Shingo Kurahashi
Institution: Toyohashi Municipal Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409874856