Personal observation of skin disorders in malnutrition

Lee, Benjamin Y.; Hogan, Daniel J.; Ursine, Susonne; Yanamandra, Krishne; Bocchini, Joseph A.

doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2005.11.002

« Previous Next »Clinics in Dermatology
Volume 24, Issue 3 , Pages 222-227, May 2006

Personal observation of skin disorders in malnutrition

This review is dedicated to the memory of our beloved and respected supervisor, colleague, and friend, Theodore F. Thurmon III, MD (1937-2005). His encouragement made this article possible.

Benjamin Y. Lee, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 318 675 6339; fax: +1 318 675 4669.
Daniel J. Hogan, MD
- Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
Susonne Ursine, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
Krishne Yanamandra, PhD
- Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
Joseph A. Bocchini, MD
- Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA

Abstract

This is a description of some unknown skin disorders found by a physician inmate in a concentration camp, 1958 to 1962. After prolonged semistarvation and ultraheavy physical labor, skin lesions developed among the inmates including cutaneous pigmentation overlying bony prominence, buccal membrane pigmentation, palmoplantar keratoderma with fissures, palmar crease clefts, nail layering, intra-nail hemorrhage, and so on. These lesions responded dramatically to nutrition therapy, including dietary improvement, yeast administration, or thiamin injection. Thiamin deficiency was confirmed to be one of major etiologic factors, whereas the deficiency of niacin or riboflavin also played a part. In the pediatric case with palmar crease clefts, both thiamin and niacin were dramatically effective. No laboratory data could be provided.