Osteomalacia associated with renal bicarbonate loss

Severe osteomalacia of uncertain etiology was observed in a 44-year-old woman. There was no evidence of chronic renal insufficiency, malabsorption, or of the renal tubular defects classically associated with osteomalacia. However, the dietary history suggested vitamin D deficiency and most of the biochemical findings were compatible with this condition. The unusual feature of the case was a decrease in plasma bicarbonate levels which appeared to be due to a lowered renal tubular threshold for bicarbonate reabsorption. There was no renal tubular defect with respect to hydrogen ion excretion.Rapid symptomatic and radiologic improvement occurred when the dietary intake of vitamin D was increased to approximately 200 I.U. per day and the acidosis was simultaneously corrected with sodium bicarbonate. Although no firm conclusions could be drawn about the relative importance of vitamin D deficiency or chronic acidosis in the production of the osteomalacia, the possibility that the chronic acidosis may have been a major contributing factor is discussed.