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Congenital rickets presenting with hypocalcaemic seizures

Z Orbak1, M Karacan, H Doneray

  • 1zerrinorbak@yahoo.com

The West Indian Medical Journal
|January 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Maternal vitamin D deficiency caused rickets and hypocalcaemic seizures in eight infants. Neither mothers nor infants received vitamin D supplementation, highlighting the need for investigation in similar cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Neonatal hypocalcaemia is a critical condition requiring prompt diagnosis.
  • Rickets, a bone disease, can manifest in infants due to nutritional deficiencies.
  • Maternal health status, particularly vitamin D levels, can impact infant health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between maternal vitamin D deficiency and rickets in infants presenting with hypocalcaemic seizures.
  • To identify the underlying causes of rickets in a cohort of infants with hypocalcaemic seizures.
  • To establish recommendations for the investigation of neonatal hypocalcaemia.

Main Methods:

  • Case series analysis of eight infants presenting with hypocalcaemic seizures.
  • Assessment of maternal health, specifically for osteomalacia and vitamin D status.
  • Review of vitamin D supplementation history for both mothers and infants.

Main Results:

  • Eight infants were diagnosed with rickets following presentation with hypocalcaemic seizures.
  • All mothers of affected infants had osteomalacia, indicating severe vitamin D deficiency.
  • Neither mothers nor infants had received vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy or infancy.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal vitamin D deficiency is a significant cause of rickets and neonatal hypocalcaemia.
  • Infants presenting with seizures and hypocalcaemia, especially if unsupplemented with vitamin D, should be investigated for rickets.
  • Universal vitamin D supplementation strategies may be crucial for preventing such cases.

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