[Metabolism of vitamin A in Forestier-Rotès-Quérol hyperostosis]

High doses of retinol produce hyperostotic lesions in animals and humans. In this study we measured in fasting subjects and 5 hours after administering 50,000 IU of retinol, levels in the serum of retinol, retinol-binding protein (RBP) and prealbumin in 35 hyperostotic subjects (HVA) and 22 control subjects. Retinol levels were equally high after fasting and after consumption of vitamin A (p 0.01). The levels of retinol-binding protein and prealbumin increase in parallel, such that the molar ratios of retinol to retinol-binding protein or to prealbumin are not changed. Taken with literature data, those of the present study indicate that vitamin A is responsible for the production of hyperostotic lesions.