Vitamin D deficiency rickets as a late complication of the short gut syndrome during infancy

Four infants with less than 35 cm of jejunum and ileum remaining following neonatal operations and after being weaned from long-term total parenteral nutrition onto an "elemental" formula, developed the syndrome of vitamin D deficiency rickets at 9-15 mo of age. The diagnosis of rickets was confirmed by biochemical and radiographic findings. Serum 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25 OHD) values were significantly lower than normal and oral 25 OHD absorption studies indicated severe vitamin D malabsorption. This report emphasizes the importance of prospective assessment of all neonates having distal ileal resection to detect the early stages of vitamin D deficiency rickets.