What is it about?
Pulmonary hypertension is a rare condition of increased blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs (mPAP). Symptoms include shortness of breath, fainting, tiredness, chest pain, swelling of the legs, and a fast heartbeat. There are several causes for pulmonary hypertension. In the 18th century, James Lind proposed that the cause of exertional dyspnea in scurvy might be in the right ventricle and a number of recent case reports have identified scurvy as the cause for pulmonary hypertension, which can cause right heart failure.
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Why is it important?
The US and UK recommendations for vitamin C intake do not discuss the evidence indicating that vitamin C deficiency can cause cardiac disorders including pulmonary hypertension.
Perspectives
It would seem sensible to measure plasma vitamin C levels of patients with pulmonary hypertension and examine the effects of vitamin C administration. Pulmonary hypertension should be included in the list of conditions associated with vitamin C deficiency.
Dr Harri Hemila
Helsingin Yliopisto
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Vitamin C deficiency can lead to pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review of case reports, BMC Pulmonary Medicine, March 2024, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-02941-x.
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