ascorbic-acid and Enteritis

Scurvy is a disease that is rarely encountered in modern medicine. A condition that was classically associated with sailors, its incidence has decreased dramatically since the discovery of its association with vitamin C deficiency. We present the case of a 2-year-old boy, whose treatment for neuroblastoma was complicated by gastrointestinal disease, which necessitated enteral feeding. While still undergoing treatment, he started to complain about increasing pain in his lower limbs, which appeared to be markedly tender on palpation. Radiographic findings suggested a diagnosis of scurvy, which was subsequently confirmed on serum biochemistry. This was an unexpected finding, as the child had been receiving adequate vitamin C in his enteral feeds. However, his absorption had become severely impaired due to pseudomembranous gastritis and enteritis, leading to his deficient state. He significantly improved after intravenous ascorbic acid replacement and demonstrated a full recovery, both clinically and radiologically. This case highlights the importance of considering scurvy in the differential diagnosis for at-risk patients. Early recognition can facilitate the simple treatment of this potentially serious condition.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Diagnosis, Differential; Enteral Nutrition; Enteritis; Gastritis; Humans; Infant; Leg; Male; Neuroblastoma; Scurvy

Ascorbigen, a natural product, is an indole derivative of L-ascorbic acid. Its effect on postnatal development and antibacterial resistance of the small intestine was studied on newborn mice. Ascorbigen was administered to 3-5-day old mice in a dose of 100 mg/kg orally every day for 7-10 days. 30 minutes before the last administration of the drug clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus or Escherichia coli were administered intragastrically to the young mice. The animals were killed in 24 hours and the frequency of the isolation of the microbes from the blood, spleen, kidneys and liver was developed. The oral use of the drug normalized the intestinal microflora, provided a reliable decrease of the bacteria isolation from the blood, spleen, kidneys and liver and prevented the animal death. The morphological examination showed that ascorbigen significantly increased the number and activity of the Paneth cells in the gland crypts, the goblet cells in the villi and mononuclear cells in the selfplate of the intestine mucous membrane vs. the intact control.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Ascorbic Acid; Blood; Enteritis; Escherichia coli; Female; Indoles; Intestinal Mucosa; Intestine, Small; Kidney; Liver; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Spleen; Staphylococcus aureus

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Enteral Nutrition; Enteritis; Gastrostomy; Humans; Infant; Leg; Male; Milk Hypersensitivity; Nutritional Requirements; Pain; Scurvy; Weight Loss

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Ascorbic Acid; Cholinesterases; Duodenal Diseases; Enteritis; Female; Gastritis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged