Pellagroid Dermatitis During a Ketogenic Diet and Anti-Epileptic Therapy
October 2010
in “
PubMed
”
Studysummary This abstract discusses pellagra as a nutritional disorder characterized by a known set of symptoms but reports no new clinical findings; the authors review existing knowledge and suggest further research. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The document reports a case of pellagroid dermatitis in a 15.4-year-old boy who was on a ketogenic diet and anti-epileptic therapy for catastrophic epilepsy. The dermatitis developed after the family stopped multivitamin and oligoelement supplements without medical advice. The boy presented with desquamating dermatitis, particularly in photo-exposed areas, and had significantly decreased levels of vitamin PP (niacin). After diagnosis, supplementation with nicotinamide, B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium was initiated, and the dermatitis improved markedly within 4 weeks. The case highlights the importance of appropriate supplementation during ketogenic diet and anti-epileptic therapy to prevent such deficiencies. This is the first reported case of pellagroid skin eruption related to vitamin PP deficit due to the cessation of supplements in the context of a ketogenic diet and anti-epileptic drugs. The document also briefly mentions a case of warfarin-induced alopecia following chemotherapy, but this is not the main focus of the summary.
