Key result
Vitamin C plus tadalafil reverses scurvy-induced pulmonary hypertension and shock within 4 days.
Why the study?
Vitamin C deficiency as a cause of rapidly reversible precapillary pulmonary hypertension is not well recognized and should be considered in differential diagnosis.
Case Report (n=1)
Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) should be considered in the differential diagnosis of precapillary pulmonary hypertension, as it can present with cardiogenic shock and is rapidly reversible with supplementation.
A 22 year old female presented with a rapid clinical deterioration, precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH), and cardiogenic shock. She received inotropic support and vasodilatory pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) therapy. Two hours after the first dose of oral tadalafil, her dyspnea and systemic perfusion had improved markedly. She had been consuming a Vitamin C-free diet. Vitamin C was given, and her echocardiogram had normalized by day 4. Vitamin C deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of precapillary PH.
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Somech et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Precapillary pulmonary hypertension and scurvy (n=1). Vitamin C and tadalafil was evaluated on Clinical improvement and echocardiogram normalization. Administration of Vitamin C and oral tadalafil in a 22-year-old female with scurvy-induced precapillary pulmonary hypertension and cardiogenic shock led to normalization of her echocardiogram by day 4.
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