Acute Life-Threatening Presentation of Vitamin D Deficiency Rickets

• Published in: The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Vol. 96; no. 9; pp. 2681 - 2683
• Main Authors: Chehade, H, Girardin, E, Rosato, L, Cachat, F, Cotting, J, Perez, M.-H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD Endocrine Society 01.09.2011; Copyright by The Endocrine Society
• Subjects: Alkaline phosphatase; Biological and medical sciences; Bone mineral density; Calcium; Calcium - blood; Case reports; Dietary supplements; Diets; Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; Endocrinopathies; Excretion; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Arrest - blood; Heart Arrest - etiology; Humans; Hypocalcemia; Hypocalcemia - complications; Hypocalcemia - diagnosis; Infant; Infants; Medical sciences; Metaphysis; Nutrient deficiency; Parathyroid hormone; Parathyroid Hormone - blood; Prophylaxis; Radiography; Rickets; Rickets - complications; Rickets - diagnosis; Sun; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Vitamin D; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - blood; Vitamin D Deficiency - complications; Vitamin D Deficiency - diagnosis; Wrist; Life-threatening; Obesity; Nutrition; Acute; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Nutrition disorder; Vitamin deficiency; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic disorder; Rickets; Vitamin D; Malnutrition; Endocrinology; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0021-972X; 1945-7197
• DOI: 10.1210/jc.2011-1112

Context: Clinical manifestations of vitamin D deficiency rickets are widely described; however cardiorespiratory arrest is an extremely rare presentation. Objective: The aim of this paper is to present the symptoms of severe vitamin D deficiency rickets and to highlight the importance of vitamin D prophylaxis in infants. Results: We report a case of a 16-month-old infant who presented to emergency room with a stridor that evolved into a full cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to hypocalcemia. Medical history revealed that the infant was exclusively breastfed without vitamin D supplementation until the age of 10 months. Due to cultural habits, his diet was also grossly deficient in dairy products. Physical exam revealed clinical signs of rickets. Laboratory test showed severe hypocalcemia, elevated alkaline phosphatase, normal serum phosphorous, decreased 25(OH) cholecalciferol, increased intact parathyroid hormone level, and normal urine calcium excretion. The radiography of the wrist showed evidence of cupping, fraying, metaphyseal widening, and demineralization of the distal radial and ulnar metaphyses. The bone mineral density of the lumbar spine measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry showed a Z-score below −2 SD. His cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to hypocalcemia was therefore attributed to severe nutritional rickets. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency rickets can be life threatening. Vitamin D supplementation is therefore crucial, especially in breastfed infants and some ethnic minorities (dark-skinned people, poor sun exposure), more at risk for developing severe rickets if not supplemented.