Infect Chemother.  2008 Apr;40(2):127-129. 10.3947/ic.2008.40.2.127.

A Case of Pellagra that Initially Mimics Vibrio Sepsis

• Kim JW
• Shin SY

• KMID: 2230018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2008.40.2.127

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Pellagra; Niacin; Vibrio

MeSH Terms

Alcoholics
Dementia
Dermatitis
Diarrhea
Humans
Korea
Niacin
Pellagra
Sepsis
Vibrio
Vibrio vulnificus
Niacin

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 On 2nd day after admission: his skin shows well-delimited, symmetrically distributed, coalescent circular, violet-colored hyperpigmented patches upon both pretibial regions and foot dorsums.

Reference

1. Klontz KC, Lieb S, Schreiber M, Janowski HT, Baldy LM, Gunn RA. Syndromes of Vibrio vulnificus infections. Clinical and epidemiologic features in Florida cases, 1981-1987. Ann Intern Med. 1988. 109:318–323.

2. Strom MS, Paranjpye RN. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of Vibrio vulnificus. Microbes Infect. 2002. 2:177–188.

3. Li KS, Byun HJ, Lee DH, Won CH, Cho S, Kim BJ, Kim MN. Two cases of pellagra in alcoholics. Korean J Dermatol. 2007. 45:956–958.

4. Park SH, Na DL, Lee JH, Kim BJ, Myung HJ, Kim MK, Chi JG. Alcoholic pellagra encephalopathy combined with Wernicke disease. J Korean Med Sci. 1991. 6:87–93.

5. Kim BM, Lee HB, Park SH. Clinical Analysis of 26 Patients with Alcoholic Pellagra Encephalopathy. J Korean Neurol Assoc. 1994. 12:206–214.

6. Sakai K, Nakajima T, Fukuhara N. A suspected case of alcoholic pellagra encephalopathy with marked response to niacin showing myoclonus and ataxia as chief complaints. No To Shinkei. 2006. 58:141–144.

7. Jeon HS, Han MS, Ahn JE, Lee YD, Cho YS. A Case of Pellagra Induced by Isoniazid during Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Tuberc Respir Dis. 2004. 57:180–182.