Lycopenemia in a patient with thalassemia minor

Abstract

An 18-year-old girl presented with yellowish discoloration of her palms that had appeared several days earlier. The rest of her skin, mucous membranes and sclera were with normal color. She denied history of anorexia, jaundice, pruritus, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or change in the color of her urine or stool or any other symptom. She reported the presence of thalassemia minor and increased beet consumption (0.5 kg/day) in the last one and a half month. After conducting the necessary research tests anorexia, hypothyroidism, renal failure and diabetes mellitus were ruled out. The discoloration was diagnosed as lycopenemia. Simple changes in diet brought complete resolution of the symptoms.