Background

Until twentieth century, pellagra was a major cause of death associated with malnutrition and extreme poverty. Now it has been eradicated in most of the countries due to remarkable enhancement in public health and nutrition. But still, cases are occurring among alcoholics, drug abusers, food faddists, and among homeless people [1, 2]. Don Gaspar Casal first described pellagra in 1735 as “mal de la rosa,” and was later renamed as pellagra in Italy from “pelle agra” which means rough skin which was noted among the Spanish poor people [3]. Pellagra is a nutritional disorder that occurs due to the deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3), which mainly affects the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the nervous system. It is classically characterized with 4Ds, namely dermatitis, dementia, diarrhea, and death [4]. The incidence of pellagra in India is not known due to underreporting of cases. The diagnosis is usually made on clinical characteristics and its immediate response to treatment [5]. Pellagra is usually observed in areas of extreme poverty and is rare in many developed countries due to the availability of adequate nutritional foods; majority of cases occur in chronic alcoholics. The pellagra is an easily treatable condition which can be fatal if not recognized, it should be considered in patients with classical clinical signs and symptoms, and treated with appropriate dose of vitamin B3, it will result in complete resolution of skin manifestations as well as symptoms. We report a case of pellagra in a farmer in the background of chronic alcohol consumption with cognitive decline, was diagnosed and treated with vitamin B3, and had complete recovery.

Case presentation

A 46-year-old male, farmer by occupation, presented to the hospital with complaints of darkening and thickening of the skin over the left upper chest and shoulder, epigastric region, left arm and forearm, and right arm and forearm for a period of 4 months. The patient initially developed darkening of the skin over the left shoulder which gradually involved other sun-exposed regions of the body as he is a farmer. He also complained of ulcer over the angle of the mouth for the period of 1 month. The lesions were associated with itching and burning sensation on exposure to sunlight. He is a chronic alcohol consumer for the past 20 years and consumes 250 ml of alcohol daily. He denied any changes in the behavior, and there is no history of memory loss, abdominal distension, pedal edema, and diarrhea. Bowel and bladder habits were normal. There is no history suggestive of other nutritional deficiencies like perioral numbness, foot pain, ataxia, easy bruisability, and join pain.

On examination, the patient is conscious, alert, and oriented. On general physical examination, the patient has pallor with angular cheilitis (Fig. 1). The patient did not have any signs of glossitis, angular stomatitis, cheilosis, bitot spots, corneal xerosis, xeropthalmia, and bleeding gums. The Mini-Mental State Examination was found to be 24/30 indicating a mild cognitive decline. On examination, multiple well-defined macules predominantly involve the photo-distributed areas like the left shoulder, left upper back, epigastric region, and also over the other sun-exposed areas like the right arm and forearm and left arm and forearm (pellagra gauntlet) with a dry overlying surface with a sharp demarcation between involved and healthy skin (Fig. 2). The systemic examination is found to be normal.

Fig. 1
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Pale tongue with angular cheilitis

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Fig. 2
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Multiple well define macules predominantly involving the photo distributed areas like arm, forearm, left shoulder and epigastric region with dry overlying surface

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His investigation revealed moderate anemia with microcytic hypochromic blood picture and decreased MCV, MCH, and MCHC values. Other parameters in the complete blood count were within normal limits. On iron studies, he was found to have low serum iron and low serum iron storage capacity with increased TIBC as in Table 1. Although he is a chronic alcoholic for 20 years, his liver function and renal function tests were within normal limits. HIV and ELISA were non-reactive.

Table 1 Blood investigations
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Upper GI endoscopy was done to rule out other causes of anemia and malabsorption related malnutrition like esophageal web/varices and carcinoma esophagus. However, it is not contributory neither for esophageal web/varices nor esophageal carcinoma. The serum niacin estimation could not be done due to its non-availability.

Based on the history and classical clinical findings of photosensitive, anemia, angular cheilitis, glossitis, and mild cognitive impairment, the diagnosis of pellagra was made. However, the definitive laboratory investigation for the diagnosis of pellagra, serum niacin level, was not carried out in our case. Based on the history and clinical findings of photodermatitis with mild cognitive decline and with background of chronic alcoholism, the diagnosis of pellagra was made. The patient was started on 300 mg of nicotinamide thrice a day with iron and other multivitamin supplements. The patient improved rapidly after the commencement of medication with resolution of skin lesions in a period of 4 weeks. The improvement of the symptoms with nicotinamide supports our clinical diagnosis (Fig. 3). The patient was advised to consume food rich in niacin like nuts especially groundnut, legumes, fish, egg, meat, and vegetables. And the patient is on regular follow-up.

Fig. 3
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Improvement of the skin lesions after the commencement of the treatment

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Discussion

The pellagra is a multisystem chronic disease affecting the skin, the gastrointestinal system, and the nervous system. It occurs due to the deficiency of nicotinic acid (niacin or vitamin B3) or its precursor tryptophan [6]. The deficient vitamin plays an important role in the metabolism of carbohydrate, fats, proteins, alcohol, detoxifies various drugs, reactive oxygen species, and in cell signaling and DNA repair pathway [7]. A thorough review of niacin metabolism is necessary to understand the pathophysiology of pellagra. Niacin can be obtained directly from the food or synthesized from tryptophan; this synthesis requires vitamins B2 and B6 as cofactors. Dietary niacin is mainly in the form of nicotinamide adenine nucleotide (NAD) and NADPH. These molecules undergo hydrolysis in the intestinal lumen to form nicotinamide, which can be converted to nicotinic acid by intestinal bacteria or absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Nicotinamide and nicotinic acid are then reincorporated as a component of coenzymes NAD and NADP, which in turn intervene in essential oxidation-reduction reactions. The ubiquitous presence of these coenzymes explains the multiorgan afflictions associated with pellagra. Tissues with high energy requirements such as the brain or high turnover rates such as gut or skin are primarily affected [5, 8]. The exquisite photosensitivity seen in pellagra may result from a deficiency of urocanic acid and/or cutaneous accumulation of kynurenic acid that may induce a phototoxic reaction [5, 9]. The recommended daily allowance of niacin is 15–20 mg/day [10]. The pellagra is divided into primary pellagra and secondary pellagra. The primary subtype mainly occurs due to dietary deficiency of niacin or tryptophan predominantly seen in people whose staple diet consists of maize. The secondary pellagra is caused by the conditions that are interfering with the metabolism or absorption of niacin or tryptophan which includes chronic alcoholism, anorexia nervosa, ileo colitis, prolonged diarrhea, Hartnup’s disease, HIV, and carcinoid syndrome. Drugs like azathioprine, 5-flurouracil, isoniazid, phenobarbitone, and 6-mercaptopurine also lead to pellagra [6, 9]. The clinical features of pellagra begin with gastrointestinal symptoms followed by neurological symptoms which are subtle and non-specific. But if untreated, it can progress to death from multiorgan failure [7]. Therefore, mucocutaneous signs play a major role in diagnosing the condition.

An acute, symmetrical, well-demarcated, tender erythematous eruptions occur at the site of sun exposure mimicking sunburn. Later, these lesions turn into hyperkeratotic, dry scaly, parchment-like, and pigmented lesions with yellow brown hue [5]. The healing of the lesions starts centrifugally with desquamation at the center and persistence of erythema at the margins. The typical lesion occurs around the nape of the neck termed as Casal’s necklace and the erythema occurs recurrently over the sun-exposed area. The gastrointestinal symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, gastritis, and achlorhydria [5]. The neuropsychiatric symptoms of pellagra are not well defined and frequently confounded with other central nervous system disorder. The symptoms like headache, irritability, poor concentration, apathy, depressed mood, psychomotor unrest, and ataxia will occur, and these symptoms may progress to stupor and coma [11]. Serum niacin levels are used to estimate the levels of N-methyl nicotinamide, which is used in confirming the disease [12]. Many times, the diagnosis is made on the basis of clinical examination and confirmed by rapid response to oral nicotinamide [7]. The histopathology of the skin usually will show nonspecific features like hyperkeratosis, parakeratosis, pallor of the upper epidermis, capillary dilatation, dermal edema, and perivascular lymph histiocytic infiltrate [7].

Since, the pellagra is due to the deficiency of the niacin. The main stay of the treatment is to replenish the store of niacin in the body. Niacinamide is preferred over nicotinic acid in the treatment of pellagra. Because the nicotinic acid in higher doses may precipitate flushing, burning, and itching. The World Health Organization recommends nicotinamide as 300 mg orally or 100 mg parentally in divided doses with the maintenance dose of 50–100 mg/day after the disappearance of the neurological symptoms [13]. Most of the patients with the diagnosis of pellagra are also deficient with other nutrients, so a high protein diet with other B-complex vitamins are recommended for the patients [14]. Dietary advice with niacin-rich foods like meat, poultry, fish, dry beans, mushrooms, nuts, dairy products, and eggs, legumes, fish, vegetables, and lifestyle modifications like abstinence from alcohol, avoidance of maize, and photoprotection are encouraged [15].

Conclusion

Pellagra is a multisystem disease of the skin, the gastrointestinal system, and the nervous system. It occurs due to the deficiency of nicotinic acid or its precursor tryptophan. The classical skin presentation will not be in all of the cases. So, the clinicians should be oriented with the knowledge of the uncommon presentation of the pellagra as described in this patient for the early diagnosis and treatment.