[Fatal vitamin D intoxication]

A 43-year-old man with alopecia maligna was treated for 4 weeks with a total of 130 mg vitamin D3. Two weeks later, after intensive exposure to the sun, he developed a hypercalcaemic crisis and died 5 weeks later of acute cardiac failure. The hypercalcaemia proved treatment-resistant despite good diuresis. Causes other than vitamin D intoxication were excluded clinically and on histopathological investigations. It is suggested that vitamin D should be administered only on the strictest indications and with regular control of the patient.