We report a case of a man in his 60s who developed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in association with profound vitamin C deficiency. Decreased availability of endothelial nitric oxide and activation of the hypoxia-inducible family of transcription factors, both consequences of vitamin C deficiency, are believed to be mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of the pulmonary hypertension. The PAH resolved following vitamin C supplementation. The current case highlights the importance of testing for vitamin C deficiency in patients with PAH in the proper clinical setting.
Keywords: case report; pulmonary arterial hypertension; respiratory failure.
Copyright © 2019 American College of Chest Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.