Vitamin C Testing May Be Worth Considering In BDUC- RPTH Journal
RPTH Journal shared a post on LinkedIn about a recent article by Florian Winkler et al., published in RPTH Journal, adding:
“Bruising, anaemia, and skin changes:could the answer be as simple as vitamin C deficency?
When a patient presents with bleeding symptoms but all haemostatic tests come back normal, the label ‘bleeding disorder of unknown cause’ (BDUC) is often applied.
But could a nutritional deficiency be hiding in plain sight?
A new case report in RPTH Journal describes a 26-year-old man presenting with extensive ecchymoses, anaemia, and sclerodermatous skin changes of the left leg, with entirely normal haemostatic workup.
Key details:
- Nutritional history revealed markedly restricted eating habits
- Severe vitamin C deficiency was identified as the underlying cause
- Vitamin C supplementation led to normalisation of haemoglobin and marked improvement of skin changes
- No haematologic or dermatologic treatment was required
This case is a timely reminder that not all bleeding disorders are haematologic in origin, and that a simple nutritional deficiency can convincingly mimic both haematologic and dermatologic conditions.
In selected BDUC patients, vitamin C testing may be worth considering.”
Title: Unexplained bleeding tendency and scleroderma-like skin changes: a diagnostic journey to vitamin C deficiency
Authors: Florian Winkler, Peter Maximilian Heil, Johannes Thaler, Wolfgang R. Sperr, Cihan Ay, Johanna Strobl, Johanna Gebhart, Dino Mehic
Other articles about RPTH Journal on Hemostasis Today.
-
Nov 4, 2026, 18:57Connecting Haemophilia Centres, Certifying Treaters, and Improving National Data in Romania – EHC
-
Nov 4, 2026, 18:45Smitirupa Mishra: A Practical Guide to Coagulation Pathway Assessment and Laboratory Interpretation
-
Nov 4, 2026, 15:59Alessandra Bosch: A Successful Patient Day for the Bleeding Disorders Community in Zürich
-
Nov 4, 2026, 15:47Wolfgang Miesbach: Targeting Hepatic Endothelial Cells for Lentiviral Gene Therapy in Haemophilia A
-
Nov 4, 2026, 15:20Augustina Isioma Ikusemoro: Before You Transfuse, Think PBM
-
Nov 4, 2026, 14:23Advancing Hemophilia Care Through Global Research – WFH
-
Nov 4, 2026, 14:12Jean-Jacques Kiladjian: From JAK Inhibitor-Associated Skin Cancers to Laboratory Discovery
-
Nov 4, 2026, 13:59Rita Li: ASH 2026 Abstract Achievement Award for Gut Microbiome Research
-
Nov 4, 2026, 13:38Omid Seidizadeh: Improving Access to von Willebrand Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Across Europe