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Published on: January 29, 2018

Acute life-threatening presentation of vitamin D deficiency rickets

H Chehade1, E Girardin, L Rosato

  • 1Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. hassib.chehade@chuv.ch

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|July 29, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Severe vitamin D deficiency rickets can lead to life-threatening cardiorespiratory arrest in infants. Early vitamin D supplementation is crucial, particularly for breastfed infants and those in at-risk ethnic groups.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Clinical manifestations of vitamin D deficiency rickets are well-documented.
  • Cardiorespiratory arrest is an exceptionally rare presentation of this condition.

Observation:

  • A 16-month-old exclusively breastfed infant, without vitamin D supplementation and with a diet low in dairy, presented with stridor evolving to cardiorespiratory arrest.
  • Physical examination revealed clinical signs of rickets, and laboratory tests indicated severe hypocalcemia and decreased 25(OH) cholecalciferol levels.

Findings:

  • Radiography confirmed rickets with characteristic bone changes, and dual x-ray absorptiometry showed low bone mineral density.
  • The infant's cardiorespiratory arrest was attributed to severe nutritional rickets and associated hypocalcemia.

Implications:

  • This case underscores that vitamin D deficiency rickets can be life-threatening.
  • Emphasizes the critical importance of vitamin D prophylaxis in infants, particularly those who are exclusively breastfed or belong to at-risk ethnic groups.
Abstract

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