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Ultraviolet irradiation for hepatic rickets
S W Kooh1, E A Roberts, D Fraser
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Ultraviolet irradiation effectively treats rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency in infants with chronic liver disease. This method corrects biochemical issues and heals rickets, maintaining healthy vitamin D levels.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Hepatology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Vitamin D deficiency rickets can arise from malabsorption in infants with chronic liver conditions.
- Hepatobiliary disorders may impair vitamin D metabolism and intestinal absorption.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients, one with cytomegalovirus hepatitis and another with Alagille's syndrome, presented with vitamin D deficiency rickets.
- Both patients exhibited malabsorption as the underlying cause of their rickets.
Findings:
- Treatment with ultraviolet irradiation successfully corrected biochemical abnormalities associated with vitamin D deficiency.
- Ultraviolet irradiation led to the healing of rickets in both pediatric patients.
- Sustained normal 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels were observed in one infant using a home sunlamp for over a year.
Implications:
- Ultraviolet irradiation presents a viable and effective therapeutic option for hepatobiliary rickets.
- This treatment modality can be a valuable tool in managing vitamin D deficiency in pediatric liver disease.
- Home-based ultraviolet therapy may offer a long-term solution for maintaining vitamin D sufficiency.
Abstract:
An infant with chronic cytomegalovirus hepatitis and a child with atypical Alagille's syndrome had vitamin D deficiency rickets due to malabsorption. Both received ultraviolet irradiation. This treatment corrected biochemical abnormalities and healed the rickets. In the infant use of a sunlamp at home maintained normal 25 hydroxy-vitamin D for over a year. Our study shows that ultraviolet irradiation is an effective treatment of hepatobiliary rickets.