Bone histomorphometry in asymptomatic adults with hereditary hypophosphatemic vitamin D-resistant osteomalacia

Vitamin D-resistant rickets (VDRR) in adults is characterized by low serum phosphorus and osteomalacia. Despite the disappearance of rickets after the closure of epiphyses, some adults with VDRR present with symptomatic bone disease while other are asymptomatic. In order to test the presumption that asymptomatic adults no longer have active bone disease, we have compared bone histology in 10 symptom-free adults to 6 age-comparable symptomatic adults presenting with bone pain and persistent deformities. Both groups had similar low serum phosphorus and increased serum alkaline phosphatase values. Serum calcium, parathyroid hormone, and vitamin D metabolite concentrations were not different in the two groups. Histomorphometric study of bone formation and resorption was made on undecalcified sections of iliac crest bone biopsies obtained after in vivo single or dual tetracycline labeling. Bone histology revealed that both groups of patients had comparable osteomalacia, as evidenced by increased amount of osteoid tissue, prolonged mineralization lag time, and reduced bone formation rate. Despite the presence of osteomalacia, the trabecular calcified bone volume was within or above normal values in the two groups, implying a remodeling imbalance between the rates of bone resorption and formation. The data show that despite the absence of symptoms and the disappearance of rickets, adults with VDRR still have active bone disease characterized by moderate to severe osteomalacia. The normal to increased trabecular bone mass implies that the occurrence of painful symptoms results from factors other than trabecular osteopenia. These observations thus lead one to question the utility of active medical treatment with vitamin D and/or phosphate in asymptomatic adults with VDRR.