Scurvy and Altered Iron Stores in Thalassemia Major

Abstract

SCURVY is a rare disorder in the United States because of the wide availability of fresh fruits and vegetables and the frequent supplementation of common packaged foods with vitamin C. Although vitamin C levels in leukocytes are reduced in many patients with iron overload due to repeated blood transfusions,¹ clinical scurvy has not been reported in this group. We have studied a patient with homozygous β-thalassemia and iron overload, who had two episodes of scurvy despite a normal intake of vitamin C. Investigation of iron stores before treatment and during recovery showed that the normal release of iron from tissue . . .