Pellagra. Report of three cases

Pellagra, caused by niacin deficiency, was described in 1730 by Casal in Spain and is specially frequent in alcoholics, subjects with malabsorption and mentally ill patients. We report three alcoholic patients (one female) aged 32,57 and 26 years old, presenting with the typical desquamative and hyperpigmented lesions in exposed areas. One patient also had mental changes characterised by aggressiveness and clouding of consciousness. A diagnosis of pellagra was reached and treatment with nicotinic acid was started with good clinical response in all cases.