• Maykel Michiels, Marieke Mellema, and Frank P J Peters.
• Orbis Medisch Centrum, Afd. Interne geneeskunde, Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands.
• Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2010 Jan 1; 154: A1638.

AbstractA 68-year-old female with an extensive history of unexplained problems presented at the Department of Internal Medicine for an analysis of painful cutaneous abnormalities of the lower legs. A systemic cause could not be found. Later on the general practitioner noted haematoma and petechiae and subsequently a hypovitaminosis C. The patient received active vitamin C supplement for this. The cutaneous abnormalities on the legs had significantly improved after 3 weeks. This patient was found to have symptomatic hypovitaminosis C, also known as scurvy, as a complication of an psychiatric disorder. Although scurvy might appear to be a disease of the past that rarely occurs nowadays, it should nevertheless be given due consideration. This requires a good history taking.

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